Former captain Sunil Gavaskar referred to Washington Sundar’s selection for the second Test match against New Zealand as a “inspired selection”. For the pivotal game at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, Sundar took Kuldeep Yadav’s spot. Despite early criticism, Sundar put up a strong show, recording his best statistics in the format and grabbing his first five wickets in Test cricket. Rachin Ravindra, Tom Blundell, and Glenn Phillips were among the important New Zealand batsmen who Sundar removed during the Test. He bowled out Tim Southee for his sixth wicket. “What an inspired selection,” exclaimed Gavaskar, who was commentating at this point. Because he can bowl and bat a little bit, he is selected in the starting lineup.
With 7 wickets for 59 runs in 23.1 overs, Sundar’s contribution proved crucial as he assisted India in dismissing New Zealand for 259 in their opening innings. New Zealand went from 179/3 to 259 all out as a result.
With Yashasvi Jaiswal (6 not out) and Shubman Gill (10 not out) at the crease, India stumbled to 16 for 1 in 11 overs, falling farther behind by 243 runs in the first innings. With the disastrous first innings of the Bengaluru Test still fresh in their minds, the hosts had to exercise extra caution when Tim Southee dismissed Rohit for a nine-ball duck. The ball rolled away to beat his outside edge and crash into the off-stump. Rohit, who was cleaned up by Southee for the second time and for the third time in the series, was squared up as he attempted to defend in the line of the delivery.
