In a stunning display of spin bowling, Mitchell Santner led New Zealand to a historic 113-run victory over India in the second Test at Pune, marking the first time New Zealand has won a Test series on Indian soil. This defeat also signals India’s first home Test series loss since 2012.
Santner’s remarkable performance saw him claim match figures of 13 for 157, including a stunning 7 for 53 in the first innings and 6 for 104 in the second. His exploits not only secured the win but also established him as the third-best visiting bowler in India’s Test history.
New Zealand set a challenging target of 359 runs, and India started their chase strong, reaching 96 for 1, fueled by an aggressive 77 off just 65 balls from Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, Santner’s relentless bowling turned the tide. He dismissed key batsmen, including Rohit Sharma and Jaiswal, effectively derailing India’s momentum.
India collapsed to 156 all out in their first innings. Ravindra Jadeja was the top scorer with 38 runs, while Santner wreaked havoc on the batting lineup. In the second innings, Jadeja again contributed with 42 runs, but it was not enough to stave off defeat as India was bowled out for 245.
New Zealand’s total of 259 in the first innings was bolstered by Devon Conway’s 76 and Rachin Ravindra’s 65, while Washington Sundar shone for India with a remarkable 7 for 59.
Commenting on the Indian batting lineup, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar noted, “The Indian batters were short of confidence against spin,” reflecting on the struggles faced by the home team against New Zealand’s spinners.
As India sought a perfect morning session to stay in the game, the experienced duo of Jadeja and R. Ashwin opened the bowling but failed to provide the breakthroughs needed. Instead, it was Santner’s controlled bowling that turned the match in New Zealand’s favor.
With this victory, New Zealand not only claims a historic series win but also sends a strong message to the cricketing world, showcasing their prowess in spin-friendly conditions. The defeat raises questions for the Indian side, who will be looking to regroup and reassess ahead of their next series.
As the dust settles on this monumental clash, Santner’s performance will be remembered as a defining moment in New Zealand cricket, while India will be left to ponder what went wrong in their pursuit of a 19th consecutive home series victory.
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Match Scorecard: 2nd Test – New Zealand vs India
New Zealand Innings
1st Innings: 259
– Devon Conway: 76
– Rachin Ravindra: 65
– Washington Sundar: 7/59
– Ravichandran Ashwin: 3/64
India Innings
1st Innings: 156
– Ravindra Jadeja: 38
– Mitchell Santner: 7/53
– Glenn Phillips: 2/26
2nd Innings: 255
– Tom Latham: 86
– Glenn Phillips: 48*
– Washington Sundar: 4/56
– Ravindra Jadeja: 3/72
2nd Innings: 245
– Yashasvi Jaiswal: 77
– Ravindra Jadeja: 42
– Mitchell Santner: 6/104
Match Summary
– New Zealand won by 113 runs