New Zealand extended their lead to a formidable 301 runs after spinner Mitchell Santner’s brilliant 7-53 dismantled India on day two of the second Test in Pune on Friday.
India, struggling to cope with the turning track, crumbled to 156 all out, conceding a 103-run deficit at the end of the first innings.
New Zealand, who already led the three-match series 1-0, ended day two at 198-5, further consolidating their advantage. Skipper Tom Latham was instrumental in their steady innings, scoring a well-crafted 86 before departing. Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell (30*) and Glenn Phillips (9*) were at the crease at stumps, with hopes high of scripting history with New Zealand’s first-ever Test series win in India.
Sundar’s Heroics Not Enough
Indian spinner Washington Sundar continued to battle valiantly, taking four wickets in New Zealand’s second innings to bring his match tally to an impressive 11 wickets. He had earlier grabbed 7-59 on day one, giving India some hope on a challenging surface.
In New Zealand’s second innings, Sundar trapped Devon Conway LBW for 17, while senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin sent back Will Young for 23. Sundar struck again, bowling Rachin Ravindra for nine with a skidding delivery that hit off-stump, and later dismissed Daryl Mitchell for 18.
Latham held firm with a composed fifty, building a 60-run partnership with Blundell, before Sundar finally broke through by trapping the New Zealand captain lbw. However, the damage inflicted by Santner in the first innings had already given the visitors a commanding position.
Santner’s Spin Masterclass
Mitchell Santner emerged as the hero for New Zealand, claiming his first five-wicket haul in 29 Test appearances. His left-arm spin bamboozled the Indian batsmen, handing New Zealand a massive advantage and allowing them to outplay India in their own spinning conditions.
India’s batting lineup struggled throughout the day. Ravindra Jadeja managed to top-score with just 38 runs, but the hosts were bowled out in just 45.3 overs. Overnight batsmen Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill resumed cautiously, but Santner’s magic struck early as he trapped Gill lbw for 30 in the 11th over.
This collapse marked India’s second disastrous innings of the series, after their humiliating 46 all out in the first Test in Bengaluru—India’s lowest-ever home total. New Zealand’s victory in that match was their first Test win on Indian soil since 1988, and they now appear on the verge of completing an unprecedented series triumph.
The dominant performance by Santner, coupled with a resilient batting effort led by Latham, has given New Zealand a strong grip on the match. As the action continues, all eyes are on whether India can mount a comeback, or if New Zealand will secure a historic series win.
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