 |
|
The third day of the second Test match between India and New Zealand in Pune witnessed a stunning display of spin bowling by Mitchell Santner, propelling New Zealand towards a historic series victory. Santner's exceptional performance, highlighted by his second five-wicket haul in the match and a maiden ten-wicket match haul in Tests, left India reeling at 178/7 at tea, needing another 181 runs for victory. This defeat, should it materialize, would mark India's first home series loss since 2012.
The afternoon session, while initially promising for India with Yashasvi Jaiswal continuing his aggressive batting, took a dramatic turn as Santner's magic unfolded. He broke through India's resistance, dismissing Shubman Gill and Jaiswal, the latter's dismissal being particularly significant. Jaiswal's decision to reduce his sweep shots, likely due to back pain, played a crucial role in his downfall. India's woes deepened when Rishabh Pant was run out after a misjudgement with Virat Kohli, leaving them at 127/4, a significant blow to their hopes of recovery.
India's attempts to counter New Zealand's left-arm spin threat with a left-right batting combination, achieved by promoting Washington Sundar to number 6, proved futile. Santner's mastery continued, claiming the wickets of Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, and Sundar, leaving India on the brink of a crushing defeat. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, despite their valiant efforts to stem the tide, were unable to salvage the situation, facing an almost inevitable result. While other New Zealand bowlers haven't consistently posed a threat, Santner's exploitation of the Pune pitch has proven to be a decisive factor, leaving India in a state of disarray.
The match's outcome hangs in the balance as the fourth day unfolds, but New Zealand's dominance in the third day, fueled by Santner's exceptional performance, paints a clear picture of a potential historic victory. India, on the other hand, faces the daunting task of overcoming a significant deficit and avoiding a series defeat on home soil, a feat they haven't endured for over a decade.