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New Zealand's Measured Start: India vs New Zealand 2nd Test Highlights

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Written by Muthu Narayanan

Ind 24/10/24

The highly anticipated 2nd Test between India and New Zealand is underway at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. With perfect weather conditions gracing the venue, fans are treated to an exhilarating day of cricket. Here are the key insights and highlights from Day 1 so far:

Pre-match buildup

The pitch at Pune displayed soft conditions, offering limited bounce and featuring a light covering of grass. While it showed signs of turning, batting on this surface was anticipated to be relatively easier. Winning the toss was crucial, and Tom Latham wasted no time, opting to bat first on this dry wicket after securing the toss.

In terms of team compositions, New Zealand made one change, bringing in Mitchell Santner to replace Matt Henry. Meanwhile, India made three adjustments: Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, and Akash Deep came in for KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav. Both teams tailored their lineups to suit the prevailing conditions.

With the pre-match proceedings complete, the stage was set for an exciting contest.

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New Zealand’s Defensive Approach: Day 1 Session 1

Both teams took to the centre for the much-anticipated India vs New Zealand second Test. Openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway made their way to the crease, with Jasprit Bumrah holding the new ball. The innings began cautiously, especially against Bumrah’s sharp bowling. However, the Kiwi batters quickly targeted Akash Deep, finding boundaries as the new ball offered little assistance on the surface. Akash Deep struggled to maintain the right length, and even Bumrah faced challenges, conceding runs to the New Zealand openers.

As New Zealand counter-attacked, they got off to a solid start. In a pivotal moment, Rohit Sharma turned to his ace spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, who delivered immediately by dismissing Tom Latham for the ninth time in eleven innings—a critical breakthrough for India.

Rohit continued to press with his spinners as Will Young joined Devon Conway at the crease. Both batters appeared comfortable, navigating the Indian spin attack, which was at times too quick, allowing the ball to come onto the bat easily. There were a few close calls, but the umpires made accurate decisions, leading India to lose a review during the session.

As the innings progressed, Bumrah was brought back into the attack but struggled to find his rhythm, again conceding boundaries. Ashwin was reintroduced and struck once more, claiming Will Young’s wicket after a brief appeal. Sarfraz Khan, animated in his appeal, convinced Rohit to review the decision when there was uncertainty over an edge. The review showed a thin edge, resulting in the dismissal of Young, and Ashwin celebrated the breakthrough alongside an exuberant Sarfraz.

With this wicket, Ashwin equalled the record for the most wickets in the World Test Championship, matching Nathan Lyon's tally of 187 in just 39 matches. Rachin Ravindra joined Conway at the crease, both of whom had troubled India in the first Test. However, their approach was more measured this time, taking singles with ease.

As the session approached its end, Devon Conway reached his fifty, marking his second of the match. The lunch break arrived with New Zealand at 92/2 after 31 overs. This session belonged to New Zealand, as they showcased a strong defensive strategy that kept them slightly ahead of India in terms of gameplay.

India Stages a Comeback: Day 1 Session 2

Players returned to the field after lunch, with Jasprit Bumrah starting the proceedings for India. Devon Conway quickly found his rhythm, hitting three boundaries off Bumrah in the opening over of the session. It appeared that the pitch had improved for batting following a challenging first session. Washington Sundar joined Bumrah from the other end, while Bumrah attempted to use some cutters to exploit the soft bounce, but he couldn’t secure any wickets.

Both Rachin Ravindra and Conway were batting confidently, showcasing a more aggressive approach than in the first Test. They managed to build a partnership, adding fifty runs for the fourth wicket as Conway took on the spinners. Rohit Sharma turned to Ashwin again, and the move paid off immediately; Ashwin dismissed Conway with a lazy shot, leaving him visibly dejected over his poor shot selection. The breakthrough was made possible by a catch from Rishabh Pant.

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Daryl Mitchell was the next man in and had a busy start, attempting sweeps and playing more square to use the turn. He faced a few close calls but managed to survive. Meanwhile, Rachin continued to accelerate, hitting several boundaries to bring up another half-century, maintaining his excellent form. After a rough start, Mitchell settled in well, and the two batters built a solid partnership, adding another fifty runs.

However, Washington Sundar struck with a beautiful delivery that bowled Rachin for 60 runs. The ball angled in, pitched perfectly, turned sharply, and clipped the bails. Tom Blundell came to the crease next, facing spin from both ends, which increased the pressure on the New Zealanders. Sundar then dismissed Blundell with a classic offspinner delivery, further shifting momentum in India's favor.

The session concluded with New Zealand scoring 107 runs for the loss of three wickets in 31 overs. This session belonged to India, thanks to their late comeback in dismissing the set batters. It was a thrilling passage of cricket as players headed for tea on Day 1.

For more India vs New Zealand updates: 

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