New Delhi: Eyebrows were raised when Washington Sundar was included in India’s playing XI in the place Kuldeep Yadav against New Zealand in the second Test. The all-rounder justified his selection in some style with career-best figures of 7/59 as India bowled out New Zealand for 259 runs in the first innings on the opening day in Pune.
Sundar was among the three changes the home team made after their eight wicket loss in the first match in Bengaluru. The 25-year-old was the most curious inclusion as he was set to play his first Test since March, 2021.
He was expected to play a supporting act to Ravichandran Ashwin, after the veteran spinner claimed the first three wickets once the visiting team won the toss and decided to bat.
Sundar takes centrestage
Sundar tookover the baton from then on, running through the Kiwi batting line-up, swinging the momentum India’s way with two late wickets in the second session, including the crucial wicket of Rachin Ravindra (65).
The left hander’s dismmisal reduced the Black Caps to 201/5 at tea after which they folded pretty cheaply. After his 134 in the first innings of the first Test, Ravindra looked set for another big knock.
But he was uprooted by Sundar, five of whose seven dismissals were clean bowled including Tom Blundell (3), Mitchell Santner (33), Tim Southee (5) and Ajaz Patel (4).
Ashwin goes past Lyon
Apart from Sundar, opener Devon Conway (76) looked good for a big score but was among the three to fall to Ashwin, enabling him to go past fellow off-spinner Australia’s Nathan Lyon in the list of top wicket-takers in Tests.
Before Conway, Ashwin had sent back New Zealand captain Tom Latham (15) and Will Young (18) in a measly spell that faciliated Sundar’s rich haul of wickets.
Rohit fails again
Yet, the mood in the Indian dressing room wouldn’t be over joyous as Rohit Sharma’s was dismissed cheaply again as India ended the day at 16/1, trailing by 243 runs/
Yashasvi Jaiswal (6 not out) and Shubman Gill (10 not out) were at the crease at stumps after Tim Southee castled Rohit for a nine-ball duck, his third bowled out dismissals in as many innings in the series.
Southee claimed his wicket for the second time in the series to be the first pacer to take a wicket after Sundar and Ashwin shared all the 10 New Zealand wickets in their first innings.
