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The second Test match between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru witnessed a dramatic turn of events as New Zealand made significant strides towards an improbable series victory. India, known for their formidable home record, found themselves facing a daunting task after losing six wickets for 91 runs in the first session of day two, leaving them trailing New Zealand by a substantial 152 runs. The pitch, which offered substantial turn, played a significant role in India's struggles, with Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips proving particularly effective in exploiting the conditions.
Santner's dominance was evident from the very first over, as he bowled with precision and variation. His deliveries consistently challenged the Indian batsmen, forcing them to play defensively and limiting their scoring opportunities. Gill, who had looked solid in the first innings, fell victim to Santner in the 11th over, bowled for 21 runs. The pitch's unpredictable nature made it incredibly difficult for newer batsmen to find their rhythm, further adding to India's woes.
The arrival of Virat Kohli brought a surge of optimism among the Indian supporters, but their joy was short-lived. Kohli, known for his aggressive approach, was bowled for a solitary run by Santner, who was seemingly unplayable on the day. Phillips, brought into the attack by Tom Latham, added to India's woes by dismissing two left-hand batsmen, demonstrating his ability to adapt to the conditions and exploit the turning pitch.
Despite the early setbacks, India's experienced batsmen were expected to counterattack and regain control. However, Santner's consistent line and length, coupled with the challenging pitch, stifled their aggressive intentions. Gill, while managing to hit a six off Tim Southee, was forced to charge at the fast bowler, highlighting the difficulties in scoring runs. Jaiswal, too, had to resort to the reverse sweep to get a boundary, indicating the pressure faced by the Indian batsmen.
As the session progressed, the pressure intensified, with India struggling to score freely. The fielders, sensing an opportunity, were constantly on their toes, making life even more difficult for the batsmen. Phillips added to New Zealand's momentum by dismissing Jaiswal and Pant, further dismantling India's batting lineup. Sarfaraz Khan, who had shown promise against spin in the previous Test, found the margin for error to be minuscule on this pitch. His attempts to attack were met with limited success, and eventually, he fell victim to Phillips's accurate bowling.
Santner's impressive spell culminated in the dismissal of R Ashwin, marking the first time he had taken more than three wickets in a Test innings. His figures of 14-1-34-4 were a testament to his dominance and showcased the effectiveness of his bowling on a turning pitch. As India headed into the lunch break, they faced a daunting task of battling back from a significant deficit and attempting a challenging chase in the fourth innings. New Zealand, on the other hand, were brimming with confidence, sensing a golden opportunity to claim a historic series win on Indian soil.
Source: New Zealand eye big lead, India lose 6 for 91 before lunch