India thought it would lead the second Test in Pune after bowling out New Zealand to 259 runs in the first innings, but the Kiwi spinners won Day 2 and held the hosts to 156. Pressure was placed on Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan as the Indian top order once again failed to deliver, but they were unable to do so this time either. Even though he finished first with 38 runs, Ravindra Jadeja was insufficient as New Zealand managed to take a 103-run lead.
Day 2 saw spinner Mitchell Santner dominate, taking a career-high seven wickets. As a full-toss ball missed by Virat Kohli and struck the timber, the Indian hitters appeared naive in his face. Interestingly, Santner took out Shubman Gill, Kohli, Sarfaraz, Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, and Jasprit Bumrah, while his teammate Glenn Phillips got rid of Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
India was supposed to do better with the ball in the second innings, but they failed to do so. Two of India’s best spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, frequently prevailed on these kind of wickets, but on Day 2, they found it extremely difficult to manage the second Test at Pune, which was won by New Zealand.
With an impressive 86-run performance, captain Tom Latham gave the BlackCaps a significant lead in the Test. As New Zealand ended the day with 198/5 on board, they easily overtook India’s first innings total. It goes without saying that the Rohit Sharma-led team will have a very hard time finding a way to win the match with their 301-run lead at the end of Day 2.
Also Read: Anil Kumble praised Mitchell Santner’s spin-bowling masterclass vs India
If they don’t, India will lose their first Test series at home in twelve years. They crushed all of their opponents at home, but this time around, New Zealand appears to be more prepared because of how well their batting and spin departments have performed thus far.
Here’s how X reacted to the action on Day 2 of the Pune Test:
New Zealand finished day 2 on a very good note.
At Stumped Kiwis are 198/5.New Zealand total lead is now 301 runs.#INDvsNZ
Washington Sunder is the alone warrior for India.
He took 4 wickets in the 2nd innings as well.#INDvsNZ#PAKvENG#ViratKohli #HappyLeeKnowDay #Prada pic.twitter.com/waZc1rBR77— sports news (@CricUniverse7) October 25, 2024
NEW ZEALAND 198/5 ON DAY 2 STUMPS.
– The lead is of 301 runs with Kiwis, they’re in commending position in the Pune Test. pic.twitter.com/zFVmgtkwwX
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 25, 2024
What a great day for New Zealand scored more than India innings,
India doesn’t have any excuse to hide this worst performance ever— Ramniwas Meena (@Ramniwas2001) October 25, 2024
There is only one instance of a team chasing 300+ successfully in India in Tests – 387/4 by India Vs England in 2008.
Today _ New Zealand lead Over 300 runs #indvsnzl pic.twitter.com/ZzMhLdpPc1
— Sksportsmania
(@khansalman88177) October 25, 2024
India vs New Zealand
NZ 198/5 (53) 2nd Innings
Day 2: 3rd Session –
New Zealand lead by 301 runs#INDvsNZ #cricketnews #CricketUpdates— Kakashi Hatake (@Eng_tajudeen) October 25, 2024
10TH WICKET FOR WASHINGTON SUNDAR IN THE MATCH
Sundar gets Rachin in 1st innings.
Sundar gets Rachin in 2nd innings.– One of the finest Comeback ever, he is writing a new story in Indian Test cricket
— Shreya Aradhya (@ShreyaAradhya) October 25, 2024
Washington Sundar giving a historic performance in Pune.
– 11 wickets already!
pic.twitter.com/Uk2fJytvoL
— CRICKET (@Islamic95024167) October 25, 2024
Well played, Tom Latham.
A captain’s knock in the 2nd innings – 86 (133) ball. Washington shundar has 2nd 4 wickets in the test match now.
Pune.#Teamindia #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/4VF9fDj4AS
— Anil Yadav (@AnilYadav2029) October 25, 2024
A captain’s innings from Tom Latham as he departs after a solid 86 #WTC25#INDvNZ #stockmarketcrash #PAKvENG #minahilmalik #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/gX3XIkoD6d
— Muhammad Qasim (@Qasim977) October 25, 2024
New Zealand’s lead is up to 300 now. India have chased 300+ targets successfully only thrice in Test cricket :-
403 vs WI at Port of Spain, 1976
387 vs ENG at Chennai, 2008
328 vs AUS at Brisbane, 2021#INDvsNZ— Rhitankar Bandyopadhyay (@rhitankar8616) October 25, 2024
India
