Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips destroyed India’s batting unit just before lunch on day two of the second Test in Pune. It was a shambolic display with the bat as the home team struggled against the Kiwi spin duo. Santner, in particular, got the key wickets of Shubman Gill for 30 and Virat Kohli for 1.
New Zealand were bowled out for 259 in their first innings as Washington Sundar took a career-best 7 for 59. The home team are still trailing by 152 runs with two more sessions left and three days left to be played. Team India were placed at 107/7 from 38 overs when the two teams went in for lunch.
Rohit Sharma was the first wicket to go when he misread the ball from Southee to be dismissed for a duck. Both the overnight batters, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal came out with positive intent. Gill walked down the track and smashed the veteran Kiwi seamer for a huge six.
Team India is done in by spin once again
With the score reading fifty on the board, Shubman Gill was hit flush on his pads to give Santner his first wicket. The 25-year-old had played 72 balls and hit two fours and a six in his knock. The arrival of Virat Kohli sent the crowd into raptures as the former India skipper has batted well at this venue in the past.
Kohli missed a rank full toss from Santner and saw his stumps disturbed. The veteran batter made his way back to the hut for just 1 run from 9 balls. Yashasvi Jaiswal looked good batting on 30 till Tom Latham got Glenn Phillips into the attack. The off-spinner induced an edge that was snapped in the slips by Daryl Mitchell.
Rishabh Pant tried to force the issue with 18 quick runs before the rush of blood cost his wicket. Phillips pitched the ball on a good length which Pant missed while going for a hoick across the line and was bowled.
Sarfaraz Khan, who had scored 150 in the previous innings, was caught by William O Rourke for 11. R. Ashwin was out to the arm ball as the ball kept low to reduce India to 103/7. At lunch, Ravindra Jadeja was batting on 11 with Washington Sundar for company. Both Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir will hope the duo can stitch a partnership and take India to a decent total on the board.
Here's how the fans reacted
No hopes..we will lost the series and WTC finals chances ...
— Mr.robot (@runout_at_30) October 25, 2024
Perfect black magic done by Black caps.. #INDvsNZ #INDvNZ
Once again our team's fortunes are in the hands of ash-jaddu. #INDvsNZ
— Live speed (@crickweets33223) October 25, 2024
If we lose this test which me might
— Asvanth (@asvanth1808) October 25, 2024
it would be great to see VK and RO to play Ranji trophy while the third test match is happening
they're Just completely looking out of sorts#INDvsNZ #CricketTwitter
Bc Sri Lanka se haarke aayi hui NZ se series haar gye toh it'll be hella shameful for us, cmonnn India get back into this 😭🏏🤞🏽 #INDvsNZ
— Sanskar Gemawat (@thatSanskariGuy) October 25, 2024
India losing at home again #INDvsNZ
— Ashraf. (@akhunzada74) October 25, 2024
Absolute cinema 🔥 #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/dLt321ri3I
— Vishnu🗿 (@vishpat03) October 25, 2024
Net practice king 👑 #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/gnLCOIo6or
— 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐝𝐲_𝕏 (@spidy_X_) October 25, 2024