Santner's Masterclass Puts New Zealand on Cusp of Historic Win Over India
In a bid to halt the Kiwi onslaught, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin managed to stay at the crease, staving off further damage as they pushed for a final stand. Despite their efforts, the likelihood of an Indian comeback seems slim, with Santner’s control and precision on the Pune pitch proving insurmountable for India’s batters.
Mitchell Santner’s impressive second five-wicket haul in this Test, along with a ten-wicket match total, has left New Zealand poised for a landmark series win over India in Pune. By the tea break on day three, the Indian team had suffered a catastrophic afternoon, losing six wickets — five claimed by Santner (5-72) and a run-out that he also influenced, leaving the hosts at 178/7. This leaves India requiring 181 more runs to avoid defeat, putting New Zealand in a strong position to secure India’s first home series loss since 2012.
India’s second innings began promisingly, with Yashasvi Jaiswal (77) taking the attack to the Kiwi bowlers, displaying great intent and shot selection. However, Santner’s spin magic had yet to truly come into play. When it did, he claimed Shubman Gill, who edged a delivery to the slips, marking the start of New Zealand’s dominance. The pivotal moment came as Santner dismissed Jaiswal, who had eased up on his signature sweep shots due to a back injury requiring treatment between overs. This marked a major setback for India’s chase, as Jaiswal’s departure brought an end to a vital partnership.
The trouble for India only compounded with Rishabh Pant’s run-out following a miscommunication with Virat Kohli, causing India to crumble from 127/2 to 127/4. Aware of New Zealand’s left-arm spin threat, India reshuffled their batting lineup, promoting Washington Sundar to sixth in an attempt to maintain a left-right combination. This strategic move was short-lived, though, as Santner continued his relentless attack, removing Kohli for a second time in the match, then Sarfaraz Ahmed, and later Sundar.
In a bid to halt the Kiwi onslaught, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin managed to stay at the crease, staving off further damage as they pushed for a final stand. Despite their efforts, the likelihood of an Indian comeback seems slim, with Santner’s control and precision on the Pune pitch proving insurmountable for India’s batters. While other New Zealand bowlers struggled for consistency, Santner exploited the conditions to devastating effect, leaving India reeling as New Zealand eyes a historic victory.
Brief Scores:
New Zealand: 259 & 255 (Tom Latham 86; Washington Sundar 4-56, Ravindra Jadeja 3-72)
India: 156 & 178/7 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 77; Mitchell Santner 5-72)
New Zealand leads by 180 runs.
