In a disappointing turn for Indian Cricket, Team India’s record 12-year long test streak of winning the test series ended by New Zealand. New Zealand emerged victorious by winning the second test in Pune by 113 runs, taking 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series and claiming the first test series win in India and away series in World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
Indian Captain Rohit Sharma’s side became the first in 12 years to lose the test series after MS Dhoni’s unit back in 2012-2013 suffered the heavy defeat from England. From 2013, India won all 18 series at home, and recorded an unbeaten streak in the history of Test cricket. New Zealand had ended a 26-year-old drought of winning a test series in India. New Zealand has now become the third team to beat India in their own backyard after Australia and England.
This was not the first time India failed a spin test, in Pune last time Australia’s Steve O’Keefe left arm orthodox spinner claimed six wickets in both the innings and helped Australia to win the test match.
For the Kiwis, Santner became Player of the Match (7/53 and 6/104) 13 wickets in the game and 33 runs with the bat on first innings heralded a remarkable triumph for New Zealand, who mastered the conditions and played better cricket than India to beat Rohit Sharma’s team in their own game.
After a historic low 46 all-out in the Bengaluru test, Pune test defeat has raised so many questions about the batting ability to perform in upcoming (BGT) Border Gavaskar Trophy. Although Rohit Sharma stated post match “I don’t doubt anyone’s ability, but batters must trust their plans,”
Jaiswal fought a lone battle of sorts with nine fours and three sixes with a score of 77 runs on 65 balls and gave a needy partnership of 62 runs with Shubman Gill. but none of the famed Indian batters, including mainstays Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, could pose any challenge to the Kiwis.
From a steady 81/1 at lunch, the home team lost six wickets for 97 runs, struggling to negotiate Santner who yet again spinned his magic around the Indian batters. Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar marked his presence in the comeback match England test match at Ahmedabad in 2021. He registered his career best figures of (7/59 and 4/56) 11 wickets in the game and handy 39 runs with the bat.
This defeat means that India stay on top in the WTC table with 98 points but their percentage points (62.82) got hit badly as Australia are now marginally behind at 62.50. The series loss is a major setback for India, who were aiming to consolidate their position at the WTC standings. The team will need to regroup and learn from the mistakes to prepare for their next assignment.
