An electric atmosphere filled the air on the second day of the decisive Test match between India and New Zealand at Mumbai, as Indian spin stalwarts Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin lit up the field with their bowling prowess. The dynamic spin duo’s exemplary efforts ensured that India maintained a sliver of an edge as the match unfolds amidst a crumbling pitch. At the end of play, New Zealand found themselves precariously positioned at 171 for 9, leading by 143 runs— a total that may prove contentious as the deteriorating surface promises an unpredictable turn of events.
From the very outset, the bowlers orchestrated a compelling narrative as wickets continued to tumble in a manner reminiscent of the opening day. A staggering 15 wickets fell during the day, underscoring the bowlers’ dominance on a surface requiring meticulous batting skills. Earlier, in the first half of the day, Ajaz Patel (5-103) demonstrated incredible tenacity with the ball, sketching a somewhat unnerving scenario for the Indian batting line-up.
The drama unfolded in the final session with New Zealand poised uncertainly at 26 for 1. The pitch’s increasing unpredictability meant that every run was treasured. Will Young, armed with grit and determination, impressed once again for New Zealand with a valiant innings of 51. Unfortunately, he found little solace from his teammates at the crease. Daryl Mitchell (21) and Devon Conway (22) showed promise, getting good starts but failing to convert them into substantial contributions. The deceptive pitch seemed to have a life of its own, as Conway fell victim to a viciously turning delivery that, much like a predator lying in wait, caught the batsman’s edge with commendable deception.
While Conway’s demise could be attributed to mere unfortunate circumstance, Rachin Ravindra’s dismissal was one of poor shot selection. He attempted an ill-advised slog against a sharp turning off-break, resulting in a straightforward stumping. As Young witnessed these swift wickets falling from the other end, he continued his resilient stand, displaying commendable patience and skill. Young and Mitchell partnered for a significant 50-run stand, marking New Zealand’s strongest phase of the innings. However, just as it seemed that New Zealand might wrest control of the match, Jadeja delivered a breakthrough.
.
Mitchell sought to accelerate the score but was outwitted as he miscued a lofted shot, brilliantly caught by Ashwin stationed at mid-on. The proverbial floodgate effect appeared once more as Jadeja’s spectacular delivery eventually led to Tom Blundell’s dismissal, continuing his unfortunate run in the series.
Glenn Phillips (26) adopted an aggressive approach with the bat. Understanding the challenging nature of the pitch, his rapidly accumulated 26 runs—encompassing three mighty sixes and a four—briefly blustered through India’s bowling mirage but was abruptly ended by Ashwin’s signature carrom ball.
Jadeja, intent on capitalizing on the momentum shift, mercilessly cleaved through New Zealand’s lower order, securing his team a tenuous advantage by day’s end. Matt Henry and Ajaz Patel managed a six each, providing essential tail-end runs before Henry became Jadeja’s fourth prey. As the day closed, New Zealand grappled with faded momentum, while harboring a glint of hope that their lead could introduce ambiguity into the contest’s outcome. With aspirations to extend their lead past the 150-155 mark, New Zealand must battle hard to set an impediment for India, facing an unpredictable challenge of batting last.
Despite India’s commendable bowling performance, concern roils around another batting collapse that marred their innings. Standout performances from Shubman Gill (90) and Rishabh Pant (60) in their 96-run partnership injected hope, but these highlights were overshadowed by Ajaz Patel’s relentless spell that underscored India’s vulnerability in batting depth. Ish Sodhi and Phillips supported Patel with crucial wickets, upsetting the Indian innings rhythm significantly.
The lower order, a traditional bastion for Indian resilience, faltered, leaving fans yearning for past series’ silver linings. Ashwin and Jadeja, dependable with the bat in the past, failed to deliver this time, as Gill found no support after his impressive innings, falling ultimately to Patel’s cunning variation. Washington Sundar’s assertive 38*, albeit brief, proved vital in bumping up India’s first-innings tally, albeit insufficiently.
As proceedings stand, India’s slender lead delineates a tight contest, hinging significantly on Day 3’s events as the pitch metamorphoses further into a spinner’s paradise. The performance of the bowlers, thus far commendable, will need reinforcing as the match edge teeters ever so slightly in favor of the hosts.
Brief scores: New Zealand 235 and 171/9 (Will Young 51; Ravindra Jadeja 4-52, Ravichandran Ashwin 3-63) lead India 263 (Shubman Gill 90, Rishabh Pant 60; Ajaz Patel 5-103) by 143 runs.