During the first innings of the second Test between India and New Zealand in Pune, Rishabh Pant was clean-bowled by Glenn Phillips. The offspinner, in just his third over, bowled a flatter delivery that kept low, aiming at the off stump.
Pant, who has often saved India in challenging situations, attempted to play an aggressive shot but missed, allowing the ball to knock over the stumps. Scoring 18 off 19 balls with two boundaries, Pant’s early dismissal marked a critical blow for India, already reeling from a fragile batting lineup against New Zealand’s steady bowling.
India’s Batting Collapse in Pune
India’s batting lineup continued to struggle, facing a severe collapse in Pune. After the early loss of opener Shubman Gill, the team lost six more wickets for just 53 runs, finding themselves at 107-7 by lunch on Day 2. Despite a few quick runs, India’s wickets fell rapidly in the face of consistent pressure from New Zealand’s bowlers.
With Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar at the crease, India’s all-rounders are now tasked with the difficult job of salvaging the innings and narrowing the gap with New Zealand’s first innings total of 259 runs.
New Zealand Eyeing for Series Victory
The Black Caps are in a strong position not only in this Test but in the overall series, having secured a 1-0 lead with their victory in Bengaluru. As they control the game in Pune, New Zealand is on track to achieve a significant series win in India.
Following India’s batting struggles, the visitors have a clear path toward a historic upset. For the Indian team, overcoming New Zealand’s dominance will require resilience and improved performance in the upcoming sessions to avoid a back-to-back loss in the series.
New Zealand’s commanding performance in the series has exposed India’s vulnerabilities, particularly in their batting lineup. With India’s collapse in both Tests so far, the Black Caps are capitalizing on every opportunity to apply pressure.
As New Zealand closes in on a possible series win, India faces an uphill battle to stabilize and reclaim control in future sessions. The Test serves as a critical reminder for India to reassess their strategies and adapt under pressure, as the Black Caps continue to set a high standard with both bat and ball, pushing India into challenging territory.
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