India’s Washington Sundar delivered a career-defining performance by securing his best-ever figures of 7-59, helping to dismiss New Zealand for 259 on the first day of the second Test in Pune. Partnering with veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who claimed 3-64, the duo capitalized on a turning pitch to trouble the Kiwi batting lineup. By stumps, India had reached 16-1 in reply, with Shubman Gill unbeaten on 10 and Yashasvi Jaiswal not out on 6. However, India had lost skipper Rohit Sharma early, who was bowled by Tim Southee for a duck after facing just nine balls.
Washington Sundar, playing in place of Kuldeep Yadav after India’s heavy defeat in the series opener in Bengaluru, justified his inclusion by decimating New Zealand’s middle and lower order. His seven-wicket haul was pivotal as New Zealand, once comfortably placed at 197-3, crumbled under pressure to lose their remaining wickets cheaply. Ashwin, with his masterful control of spin, chipped in with crucial wickets, ensuring the visitors were restricted to a modest total.
New Zealand’s Devon Conway, continuing his fine form, top-scored with 76, building a solid platform alongside Rachin Ravindra, who contributed 65. Conway, just nine runs shy of a century in the first Test, looked in control as he registered his third fifty in four innings, displaying elegant stroke play. Ravindra, who scored a century and an unbeaten 39 in the first match, followed up with another solid performance, reaching his half-century with consecutive boundaries off Akash Deep. As India’s bowlers began to fade in the afternoon session, Washington turned the game on its head with a spell of unplayable deliveries that knocked over Ravindra and Tom Blundell in quick succession.
Washington’s impact was further felt when he returned after tea, cleaning up the lower order. He dismissed Daryl Mitchell (18), Glenn Phillips (9), Southee (5), and Ajaz Patel (4) in rapid succession, leaving New Zealand reeling. Mitchell Santner added some late resistance, scoring an entertaining 33, but even he fell victim to a superb delivery from Washington, ending the visitors’ innings.
Conway had earlier dominated India’s pace attack, reaching his fifty with a commanding boundary off Jasprit Bumrah right after lunch. His reverse sweeps and crisp drives kept the scoreboard ticking, but his innings ended when he edged an ambitious drive off Ashwin, giving the off-spinner his 531st Test wicket. This milestone pushed Ashwin past Australia’s Nathan Lyon, placing him seventh on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers.
New Zealand had chosen to bat first, and the early partnership between Conway and newly appointed captain Tom Latham looked promising. The openers safely negotiated the initial overs from the Indian pacers before India turned to spin in the seventh over. Ashwin struck almost immediately, trapping Latham leg-before for 15 with a delivery that drifted and turned sharply. Washington joined the attack and quickly found success, benefiting from the black-soil wicket’s assistance.
Despite India’s tight bowling, New Zealand’s batters managed to keep the scoreboard ticking by rotating the strike and punishing the few loose deliveries. However, Ashwin struck again when he removed Will Young for 18, with the help of a successful review, after the batsman gloved a ball down the leg side to the wicketkeeper.
As the series stands, India faces an uphill battle to maintain their impressive home record, having won their last 18 home series since 2012. With New Zealand leading after their victory in Bengaluru, the final Test in Mumbai, scheduled for early next month, will be crucial for the home side.
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