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The first Test match between India and New Zealand in Pune witnessed a historic bowling performance as Washington Sundar and R Ashwin combined to take all ten wickets for India, a feat never achieved before by two right-arm offspinners in a men's Test innings. This remarkable achievement marked the fourth instance of right-arm offspinners claiming all ten wickets in a Test match since Jim Laker's iconic ten-wicket haul in 1956, underscoring the dominance of this bowling style in the sport.
Sundar's performance was particularly impressive, as he claimed seven wickets in a mere 61 balls, demonstrating his exceptional control and accuracy. His figures of 7 for 59 are the joint-third best for India in Tests against New Zealand, behind S Venkataraghavan's and Erapalli Prasanna's eight-wicket hauls, and equal to Ashwin's own 7 for 59 against New Zealand in 2016. Furthermore, Sundar's five bowled wickets tied him with Jasubhai Patel, Bapu Nadkarni, and Ravindra Jadeja for the most bowled wickets in a single Test innings for India.
Sundar's remarkable performance in Pune joins a select group of bowlers who have taken seven or more wickets on the opening day of a Test match for India. He joins the likes of Ghulam Ahmed, Maninder Singh, Anil Kumble, Irfan Pathan, and Subhash Gupte, who achieved this feat in previous matches. Sundar's seven wickets in just 61 balls is also a testament to his exceptional skill and the impact he had on the match, reminding the cricketing world of the immense potential he possesses.
The Pune Test match showcased the power and precision of right-arm offspin bowling, as Sundar and Ashwin proved to be a formidable force against the New Zealand batting lineup. The historic feat achieved by the duo will be remembered as a remarkable display of spin bowling prowess, and further establishes their place in the annals of Indian Test cricket.
Source: Washington's day out in Pune - 61 balls, seven wickets