Team India ended the opening day of the second Test match in Pune at 16/1 still trailing by 243 runs. Skipper Rohit Sharma was back in the hut at the end of the day having been dismissed by Tim Southee. Rohit played across the line and was beaten neck and crop to be sent back without opening his account.
Washington Sundar was the best bowler for India with figures of 7/59 as the Kiwis were bowled out for 259. This was the first-ever fifer for the 25-year-old in the domestic format. R. Ashwin picked the other three scalps as the visitors lost their last 7 wickets for just 62 runs.
Devon Conway (76) and Rachin Ravindra (62) were the best batters for the Kiwis in the first innings. Both batters had made a huge impact in the first Test match as well with Ravindra scoring a century. Once Sundar dismissed the young left-handed Ravindra before the Kiwis saw their innings get derailed.
Washington Sundar takes opening day honours
India made three changes to the team for the second Test in Pune as Washington Sundar was included in the playing XI. The decision to drop Kuldeep Yadav was called out by a few fans on social media. The home team also dropped KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj owing to poor form as Shubman Gill and Akash Deep came in.
Speaking at the end of the day Sundar said on Jio Cinema. “The way it came through, the fact that I wasn't part of the first Test and I was called for this particular Test and given the opportunity to play in the XI, I was really grateful to the coach and captain. Unbelievable feeling.”
When asked about his approach post lunch, the India's star player said, “I wanted to be very accurate no matter what situation I was bowling or which batsman I was coming coming across. It was God's plan, just came through really well. I just focused to hit the particular areas, changed my pace here and there, just really grateful.”
Sundar also had his own take on the pitch when he said, “We genuinely felt it will start spinning from day one. It did spin in the first session but don't think it did a lot in the second. The pitch settled down from the third session, but eventually it did spin.”
Finally asked to name his favorite wicket the youngster replied” Unfair for me to choose one. Certainly Rachin Ravindra because he was batting well. Daryl Mitchell's wicket as well was game changer”
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