A shambolic batting performance during the first inning of the Pune Test might have just put the hosts India at a rare risk of a series loss home and has put their 12-year, 18 series-long unbeaten record at in jeopardy.
New Zealand seized control over the second Test and almost on the series after forcing India to fold on 156 on Day 2 of the second Test here at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Friday.
During the first innings of the Pune Test, Virat was dismissed for a poor nine-ball one-run knock. He missed a low full toss delivered by spinner Mitchell Santner and played the wrong line as the ball sneaked under his bat and crashed into his stumps.
India started the opening session at 16/1, with Shubman Gill (10*) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (6*) unbeaten. At the end of the first session, India was 107/7, with Ravindra Jadeja (11*) and Washington Sundar (2*) unbeaten.
In the second Test between the Kiwis and India, the Indian team chose a combination of three frontline spinners in Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin on what was a spin-friendly surface, with all three having exceptional quality in their batting as well when in full f
The chatter over Washington's selection was massive after Indian skipper Rohit Sharma announced three changes to the playing eleven for the Pune Test, picking pacer Akash Deep, a returning Shubman Gill and Washington in favour of Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav.
Following Washington Sundar's exceptional performance on Day 1 of the Pune Test against New Zealand, his sister M S Shailaja heaped praise on the off-spinner's bowling on his return to the longest format of the game after a long gap of 3.5 years.
Tejal Hasabnis and Radha Yadav helped India Women clinch a 59-run win over New Zealand in the first ODI match of the series at Narendra Modi Stadium here on Thursday.
Following his side's seven-wicket defeat against South Africa in the first Test in Dhaka, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanton said that they lost as a team.
India pacer Washington Sundar on Thursday reflected on Pune's pitch after the end of Day 1 of the second Test match against New Zealand and said that the bowlers had to give more speed to the ball.
India pacer Washington Sundar picked his favourite wicket from Day 1 of the 2nd Test against New Zealand at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium and said that Kiwi batter Rachin Ravindra's dismissal was close to him since he was batting well.
Indian off-spinner Washington Sundar's exceptional bowling performance bundled out New Zealand for 259 on the first day of the second Test of the three-match series at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Thursday.