In a remarkable display of cricketing prowess, New Zealand, led by the exceptional performances of Mitchell Santner and Tom Latham, dominated proceedings on the second day of the second Test against India in Pune. As the day concluded, the visitors had built a formidable lead, putting Indian hopes under severe pressure as they moved 301 runs ahead by stumps.
The day initially promised much for the home side, with Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal starting strongly. Both batsmen seemed at ease at the crease, dispatching the ball to the boundary with apparent ease and setting Indian hearts at ease. However, like a well-laid trap, Gill’s dismissal opened the floodgates for a collapse that the Indian team couldn’t stem. His departure triggered a domino effect among the Indian batsmen, who found themselves succumbing one after another—each seemingly in haste to join Gill back in the dressing room.
Virat Kohli, the lynchpin of India’s batting lineup, fell in a rather unfortunate manner. Faced with a low full toss, a ball he would normally dispatch to the stands with utmost ease, Kohli misjudged it entirely, seeing his stumps disturbed and his innings sent into an abrupt conclusion. The trend continued with Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant, both departing with little to show for their time at the crease. While the pitch did offer the odd surprise, much of the blame for the batting woes rested on poor shot selection from the Indian batsmen.
India’s deep batting order, once perceived as infallible, failed to provide any substantial resistance. Before the lunch break could offer any respite, the New Zealand bowlers had already seized six Indian wickets, with Santner being the architect of their destruction. The spinner bowled with an enviable precision and skill, claiming crucial wickets, and positioning his team firmly in control.
Post-lunch, with hopes pinned on Washington Sundar and the resilient Ravindra Jadeja, the Indian innings attempted a revival. Jadeja, known for his aggressive style, opted to take on the New Zealand bowlers in an effort to chip away at the surging lead.
. Ajaz Patel, in particular, felt the pressure as Jadeja went on the offensive. Nevertheless, Jadeja’s valiant effort was short-lived, with Santner striking again to claim Jadeja’s wicket and achieve his five-fer, eventually embellishing his marvelous spell with seven dismissals.
Having secured a crucial first-innings lead of over 100, New Zealand’s openers looked set to quash any remaining spirit within the Indian side by starting well. Despite the loss of Devon Conway and Will Young, courtesy of the spinning acumen of Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar, Latham stood as a firm bastion at the crease.
Understanding the deteriorating nature of the pitch and the need to capitalize on it, New Zealand was quick to amass runs. Washington, making practical use of his spin, claimed the vital wicket of Rachin Ravindra, but Daryl Mitchell sent out a clear message with a confident sweep to the boundary off just his third ball at the crease. Washington eventually claimed Mitchell’s wicket, as the latter misjudged a shot, sending it skywards to be safely caught at long on. Yet, the fall of wickets seemed only minor setbacks for the visiting team.
New Zealand continued to maintain a steady stream of runs, furthering India’s woes. Throughout the initial 40 overs of the innings, the Indian bowlers were unable to restrict the runs, failing to bowl even a single maiden. Washington’s tenth scalp in this Test was Latham’s, who tantalizingly neared a century but was dismissed after playing a significant innings of 86. Considering the context and conditions, each run Latham added was invaluable in placing the Test in New Zealand’s favor.
Brief scores succinctly tell the tale of New Zealand’s formidable position: ending the day on 259 & 198/5, with Tom Latham at the forefront with 86 and Washington Sundar managing figures of 4/56. They lead India, who were bundled out for 156 with Ravindra Jadeja’s 38 being the highlight, by 301 runs. As the Test progresses, India faces an uphill task, necessitating not only skill but immense resilience if they are to recover from New Zealand’s onslaught.