After absolute annihilation in the first test, losing by eight wickets, India limply subsided to an 113 run defeat in the second test in Pune, surrendering their 12 year and 18 series unbeaten home series streak in the process.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, New Zealand scraped their way to 259, thanks in large part due to fifties from Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, whilst Washington Sundar, recalled after over three years, claimed career best figures with 7-59 for India.
The seven wicket haul of Sundar, a spinner, on day one of a test match, highlighted India’s decision to prepare pitches which spin, having been swung out for 46 within a session in the previous test in Bangalore.
India’s reply, much like their performance throughout the series, was lacklustre in the extreme. They were spun out by Mitchell Santer, who took a maiden test match five wicket haul, for a lowly 156. India’s woeful response was typified by Virat Kohli’s dismissal to a full toss, for just one.
Despite a further four wickets from the impressive Sundar, New Zealand made 255 in response, underpinned by 86 from the new captain, Tom Latham, setting India 359 to win.
Whilst Yashasvi Jaiswal gave India hope with an enterprising 77, India were eventually all out for 245, succumbing to their second successive substantial defeat.
Although the third test in Mumbai, and the series itself, will have concluded at the time of publication, the seismic nature of this result cannot be understated. India, having lost just four matches at home in the past 12 years, have now been soundly defeated in back to back games, heaping pressure on their out-of-form captain Rohit Sharma and newly appointed coach Gautam Gambhir.
Furthermore, their dismal failure to win two eminently winnable games enhances India’s difficulty in qualifying for the World Test Championship final, in London next June. Now, they will likely have to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy away in Australia, which starts later this month. Meanwhile, New Zealand can keep themselves in contention by defeating England in their series in early December.
“Captain Kohli leaves the field” by It’s No Game is licensed under CC BY 2.0.