Washington Sundar delivered a stunning bowling display on Thursday, playing a key role in bowling out New Zealand for 259 on the opening day of the second Test in Pune. The off-spinner achieved his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket, recording impressive figures of 7-59. Looking back on his performance, Sundar remarked, “This is a day that will stay with me forever.”
India, however, faced an early setback, losing captain Rohit Sharma for a duck after just nine balls. By the end of the day, India stood at 16-1, trailing New Zealand by 243 runs, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill unbeaten at six and ten, respectively.
New Zealand, after electing to bat first, saw key contributions from Devon Conway (76) and Rachin Ravindra (65), who shared a 62-run partnership for the third wicket. However, Sundar’s brilliance turned the match in India’s favor. Fellow spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also played a crucial role, taking 3-64, as the Kiwis were bowled out in 79.1 overs.
Sundar attributed his success to maintaining focus, saying, “I believe it was God’s plan. My goal was to concentrate on each delivery.” His exceptional display has set India on a path to potentially level the series after their loss in the first Test in Bengaluru.
New Zealand’s batting coach Luke Ronchi praised Sundar’s performance and highlighted how the pitch conditions had shifted later in the day, offering more turn and bounce. With New Zealand aiming to secure the series following their historic win in India, the second Test is shaping up to be an exciting battle for both sides.
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