New Delhi: New Zealand defeated India by 113 runs in the second Test of the three-match series, which they clinched by going up 2-0 in Pune on Saturday. On what was only the third day of the Test, New Zealand were bowled out at 255 in the morning session after which hosts India came to bat and got off to a promising start while chasing 359 runs. The chase was eventually cut short by the New Zealand bowlers, whose timely strikes restricted India to 245.
Team India lacked consistency in batting, especially on a tricky pitch like Pune’s. The ground had specifically rolled out a black soil rank turner strip to help Team India level the series by bringing the spinners into action. It is well known what India can do with spin in the home conditions, but it seems, the Indian management took the Kiwi spinners lightly – as if they totally forgot that even their batters will have to tackle their spin.
A tough loss for #TeamIndia in Pune.
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/YVjSnKCtlI #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/PlU9iJpGih
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 26, 2024
Mitchell Santner was the Player of the Match as he took a seven-wicket haul in the first innings and a match haul of 13 wickets by taking six in the second essay. None of the Indian batting ploys worked out with another failure by the seniors Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Although Ravindra Jadeja tried leading a fightback but not for long. At such a crucial time, one can clearly imagine the impact Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane would have brought in, were they part of the squad.
Why Rahane and Pujara?
For their resilience – to sum it all up. The two Test stalwarts boast the ability to withstand in the middle for longer hours, wearing out the opposition’s bowlers and denting their confidence by blocking all the throws sent down to them. There are often talks of the beauty of Test cricket and this is surely one of those. The two batters kept their end so firm that it used to frustrate the opponents who were not able to send them packing.
It isn’t only about winning the game for the team when it’s stuck in a precarious situation as both would just play on and on and then decide at a particular point, where to steer this game to. This was one of those strategies that bore India many fruits not just at home but on foreign soil as well. Moreover, their counter-attacking of spin bowling has been tremendous over the years which makes it all the more justified that the fans are remembering the two greats.
Batting on Day 3 against New Zealand, India looked in a kind of hurry to chase the huge target down in a single day itself. The hosts had almost 2.5 days for the chase and could have used the time better which was in favour of them.
Here’s how the internet is reacting to the inclusion of Pujara and Rahane in India’s Test squad –
Winning Two times BGT in Australia and Home Soil Domination in 12 years is Possible because OF these two Classy Cricketer Ajinkya Rahane & Cheteshwar Pujara. pic.twitter.com/Fm656JKxvV
— Ayush Ranjan (@AyushRaGenius) October 26, 2024
In the Search of Gold 🪙 India Lost the Diamond (Pujara)💎 Also add Ajinkya, Vihari and Umesh Yadav in this List
What’s your thoughts 💭 #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/gPnH0dV4oJ
— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) October 26, 2024
Shubman Gill 🔁Cheteshwar Pujara#INDvsNZ #ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/8VOts862Ew
— Hum Binod (@R_Vinod01) October 25, 2024
Peak Clownism not bringing back Pujara into the Test squad pic.twitter.com/3gdpsZeKST
— FAFian™ (@SanthosH_S13) October 26, 2024
Cheteshwar Pujara sharing his phone number with Indian team selectors.#INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/mHHyJ6eUB3
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) October 26, 2024
Wake me up when India finds a better Test batsman than Pujara pic.twitter.com/Kw2EvgyqX1
— was_dhonism (@was_dhonism4lyf) October 26, 2024
Rahane and Pujara watcing Indian middle order. #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/hmXMJ4xRGn
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) October 26, 2024
37-year-old Rohit Sharma – Captain ✅
36-year-old Cheteshwar Pujara – Too old to get selected ❌
36-year-old Ajinkya Rahane – Too old to get selected ❌
35-year-old Virat Kohli – Fittest cricketer in the world ✅Hypocrisy at its peak 🔥 pic.twitter.com/N3f8m2wTKT
— Atmaram Tukaram Bhide (@BakchodBhide) October 26, 2024
We miss you Rahane and Pujara 💔😭 pic.twitter.com/ZjEjOWERRY
— CrickSachin (@Sachin_Gandhi7) October 25, 2024
