In an enthralling display of spin bowling mastery, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin spun India to a precarious advantage on the second day of the final Test against New Zealand, hosted in the bustling city of Mumbai. Jadeja’s formidable figures of 4-52, supported ably by Ashwin’s deft 3-63, played pivotal roles in ensuring that the Indian team ended the day with a slight edge. At Stumps, New Zealand stood at a wobbly 171 for 9, possessing a lead of 143 runs. On a deteriorating pitch that has confounded batsmen from both sides, this total presents a potentially challenging chase, yet India can currently assert themselves as marginally ahead.
This Test has been defined by the bowlers’ dominance, as 15 wickets fell on day two, exceeding the 14 dismissals seen on the opening day. Ajaz Patel was the spearhead for New Zealand in the morning session, claiming five wickets for 103 runs, carving through the Indian lineup.
The drama was set in motion when New Zealand resumed their innings at 26 for 1, facing an increasingly treacherous pitch. Will Young stood tall for the visitors with a resilient half-century, crafting a diligent 51. However, a lack of steadfast support from the other end meant that New Zealand couldn’t muster a more commanding position. Daryl Mitchell and Devon Conway managed to settle in but failed to capitalize on their starts, scoring 21 and 22, respectively. The challenging nature of the surface only magnified, with spins and turns deceiving the batsmen—Conway was done in by a sharply spinning delivery that nicked the edge on its way to the gloves.
Perhaps the most mystifying dismissal was that of Rachin Ravindra, who appeared enticed into attempting an adventurous strike against Jadeja but instead overshot, resulting in a straightforward stumping. During all this, Young persistently plied his trade with tenacity. A partnership with Mitchell blossomed into a modest 50-run stand, marking New Zealand’s best phase with the bat that day. Just when it seemed the visitors might make significant inroads, Jadeja struck again. Mitchell’s aggressive endeavor to escalate the scoreboard backfired, leading him to miscue a lofted shot that Ashwin snaffled at mid-on with precision.
These precarious pitch conditions proved that breakthroughs often occur in clusters. Following Mitchell’s departure, New Zealand’s Tom Blundell, enduring an unfortunate streak of form, fell victim to Jadeja’s clever spin.
. Glenn Phillips momentarily counterattacked with an aggressive 26 off 14 balls, including three sixes and a four, but found himself undone by Ashwin’s signature carrom ball. Jadeja exploited the situation magnificently, slicing through the remaining New Zealand tailenders.
Failing under the relentless spinning assault, New Zealand’s lower order sought to scratch together vital runs to strengthen their total. Matt Henry and Ajaz Patel each managed a six, adding valuable runs before Henry departed, becoming Jadeja’s fourth wicket. As the day wrapped up, New Zealand, despite losing some momentum, sat on a potentially game-altering lead. If the surface continues its unpredictable behavior, chasing a total with a lead of 143 could prove to be difficult for India. New Zealand will likely aim to eke out every potential run, hoping to nudge their lead past 150-155, which might turn into an awkward chase for India.
India, on their part, could lament a lackluster show from their batsmen who once again faltered, mirroring their previous performances in the series. Opener Shubman Gill, with an admirable 90, and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant’s breezy 60 constructed a valuable 96-run partnership. However, beyond the efforts of Gill and Pant, the Indian batting lacked the resilience often seen from their order on home turf. Ajaz Patel’s effective spell, beautifully exploiting the conducive conditions, derailed India’s middle order, supported by Ish Sodhi and Phillips, the latter delivering a significant blow with the dismissal of Pant.
Historically, one of India’s strengths at home has been the lower order’s perseverance in rescuing the innings. Unfortunately for them, this series has seen a deviation from that script. Neither Ashwin nor Jadeja has delivered with the bat, as Gill found himself without support, eventually falling to Ajaz’s prowess. A critical cameo from Washington Sundar, remaining undefeated on 38, provided the cushion India required to take a slender lead in the first innings. Though their bowlers pulled in efforts to edge ahead by day’s end, the span of their superiority remains razor-thin.
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.