India vs New Zealand 2024/25, IND vs New Zealand 2nd Test Match Report, October 24-28, 2024

New Zealand 259 and 198 for 5 (Latham 86, Blundell 30*, Washington 4-56). India 156 (Jadeja 38, Santner 7-53, Phillips 2-26) for 301 runs

The challenge for India was evident from the first three balls of the day. From the same spot, the first ball spun less than expected, the second ball went straight on but Shubman Gill survived the umpire’s call and the third ball spun well past the outside edge. There were not only curves, but also fast curves and natural variations from the surface.

India had batting power up to No.9 but depth doesn’t mean much on such pitches. Santner was so precise that he only needed 47 misses to run through India. However, New Zealand’s patience and faith were tested in the first half hour. Gill managed to break free with a sixer from Tim Southee after he ran at him. Yashasvi Jaiswal drove Southee to four before Ajaz Patel, the leading spinner on paper, offered him another half-volley.

But things turned for New Zealand in the 22nd over of the day when Santner once again beat Gill with a shot that went straight. This time the umpire’s call went to the bowler. When the 15 seconds of the DRS timer passed, the crowd erupted in huge cheers. For the arrival of Virat Kohli. The joy for them was short-lived as Kohli soon missed a full toss which he tried to mow down to square leg. The ball did drift away from the starting line, but it was still a full throw that Kohli would have taken almost every time if he had played with a straighter bat.

In the meantime the effect of the roller was wearing off. Batters even hit full balls — or ones they came close to — with their feet. Those who didn’t turn around created more doubt. As often happens in such moments, the fielders were all over the place: a hard swing went straight into the shin of short leg, a short ball stopped and spun, and the pressure kept mounting.

With two lefties in the middle, Latham went to Phillips after the first drinks break. It took Phillips four balls to turn one and use Jaiswal’s edge to slip. Rishabh Pant, who had been kept quiet with in-out fields, then went to pull one that was just slightly short. The ball stayed low and he threw it, resulting in an inaudible abuse that possibly resulted in Pant hitting the wallet.

Sarfaraz Khan, who had proven his prowess against spin in Bengaluru, soon realized that the margin for error was slim in Pune. If you had to attack, everything had to go right. He tried to go inside out to a really full ball but it still ended up just over cover. His sweep was blocked and only brought him singles. Finally, he tried to clear the deep halfway line without reaching the field of play of the ball, a reminder of Phillips’ dismissal on day one. A shooter then took out R Ashwin, the first time Santner took three wickets in a Test innings.

A lead of 103 here was a far worse scenario than the 356 in Bengaluru as this pitch was only going to get worse and India had to bat last. Latham swept the first ball with the paddle. A backwards short leg came in to block that shot and he fired a boundary at cover. Rohit Sharma was now just chasing the ball because you can’t react when you’re so far behind on a spinning pitch.

Defeating two of India’s biggest match winners was clinical. Sweeping movements, backward movements and the use of feet were used. Ashwin’s first spell brought 33 in six overs and Jadeja reached 24 in three. Washington at the other end continued to pick up wickets. Devon Conway threw a swing at the pad but didn’t review the LBW decision. So far New Zealand has been ahead.

After they gave the go-ahead and the field spread out, Latham set up his tent for a long inning while those around him fought more animatedly. Washington converted his seven-for in the first innings into only his second ten-wicket haul in first-class cricket, but New Zealand found runs more easily at the other end. Latham missed a century but he had put New Zealand in a great position.