Ravichandran Ashwin got a vital wicket in the very first over of the second Test match between India and New Zealand in Pune.
Ashwin got one in the eighth over, dismissing New Zealand captain Tom Latham LBW to a good delivery. Latham, in particular, had to leave the field only after scoring fewer runs, along with opening partner Devon Conway. The visitors were on a rip-roaring start and fast and easygoing, but Ashwin’s early breakthrough halted them.
India started this match with a rare home defeat following their heels. Suffering a humiliating defeat in the first Test at Bengaluru, where India failed to reach the desired minimum score of 150, and were bundled out for a pathetic 46, India, however, made a phenomenal comeback at the same venue with a second innings score of 462.
Also Read: GRAP-II Enforced In Delhi NCR, Things To Do
However, New Zealand had a remarkable fight. It achieved an eight-wicket win over India, which resulted in a drastically shameful loss to India and also cost them points in the World Test Championship, although they are at the top of the table right now.
Eager to find redemption, India brought at least three new faces in the playing XI for the second test match. Changes were made in the team. Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, and Akash Deep came into the team, and KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammed Siraj were sent out. These changes might have been caused by Rahul’s unreliable performance and India’s worry about their top-order batting after they failed in the first Test match.
Rohit Sharma and the Indian team’s management had to make a few tough calls regarding selection into this match, most importantly for the batting lineup. Though it was always certain that Rahul would have partners in the Indian team, neither the scores of hundreds, which were now becoming routine, nor Sarfaraz Khan’s gritty 150 in Bengaluru would leave anyone wondering who would be asked to sit out.
India’s batting order failed to cope with the Kiwi pace trio of William O’Rourke, Matt Henry, and Tim Southee in Bengaluru.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates