When Washington Sundar was added to the Indian squad for the remaining two Tests against New Zealand, more than a few eyebrows were raised. After all, who needed another finger spinner with Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel around? But then, in the second Test in Pune, the lanky all-rounder was thrown into the deep end, replacing Kuldeep Yadav. And boy, did he make a splash!
R Ashwin starts with a bang
Sundar’s bowling was a breath of fresh air, and he quickly proved that his inclusion by Rohit Sharma was no mistake, claiming a seven-fer. With his clever spin and on-point lengths, he brought India back into the game after New Zealand were in the driving seat in the second session.
In a masterful display of classical off-spin bowling that would have made his senior counterparts proud, Washington Sundar recorded his career-best first-class figures of 7/59, leading India’s bowling assault against New Zealand on Day 1 of the second Test in Pune.
‘Masterful’ Washington Sundar
The day began conventionally enough, with R Ashwin stamping his authority early, claiming Tom Latham with a magnificent delivery that turned sharply from round the wicket. However, it was the post-tea session that witnessed the emergence of an unexpected hero in Washington Sundar, who orchestrated a spectacular collapse of the New Zealand batting order.
The apprentice had indeed outdone the masters. While veterans like Ashwin and Jadeja have long been India’s spin titans, it was the 24-year-old Sundar who emerged as the day’s protagonist. His performance was reminiscent of the classic Tamil Nadu spinning tradition – relying on drift, dip, and subtle variations rather than excessive turn.
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The turning point came when New Zealand, relatively comfortable at 197/3, encountered Sundar’s spell before tea. His dismissal of the well-set Rachin Ravindra with a delivery that dipped and turned sharply announced the beginning of what would become a memorable bowling performance. The ball that cleaned up Ravindra was a sign of Sundar’s growing mastery over his craft – floating above the batter’s eyeline before dipping viciously and turning through the gate. Tom Blundell’s dismissal that followed showcased another dimension of Sundar’s bowling arsenal, leaving him stranded and bewildered.
In many ways, this performance marked Sundar’s coming of age in Test cricket. While Ashwin and Jadeja have long been India’s premier spin options, Sundar’s seven-wicket haul showed that the future of Indian spin bowling remains bright. The apprentice had not just matched but surpassed expectations, crafting his own narrative.
India lose Rohit Sharma late in the day
New Zealand posted 259/10 after opting to bat first. The pitch looked to have enough help for the batters initially but as the day went on, spinners found their groove. India had to bat for just more than 10 overs and hoped not to lose any wicket. However, Tim Southee’s brilliant delivery castled Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who recorded a bad duck to kickstart the innings. Shubman Gill, who made a comeback after missing out in the previous game, looked solid. He (10*) remained unbeaten by the end of the day with Yashasvi Jaiswal (6*).
IND vs NZ 2nd Test Day 1 Stumps:
New Zealand 1st innings: 259-10 (79.1 Ov) (Rachin Ravindra 65, Washington Sundar 7/59)
India 1st innings: 16-1 (11 Ov) (Shubman Gill 10*, Tim Southee 1/4)
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