India vs New Zealand, 2nd Test live score: Ashwin and Washington Sundar pick 3 wickets each

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first in the 2nd test in India vs New Zealand. The match is being played in Pune at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium. New Zealand’s captain won the coin toss and with that the upper hand in the game by opting to take the first batting. Ups and downs, but the Kiwis have their score reading 208/6 by 2:45 PM to give the audience an engaging start to the game.

Steady Start for New Zealand

New Zealand’s innings had begun with hope, but it wasn’t long before its skipper, Tom Latham, departed the scene, having made just 15 runs. India ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin got Latham out to set the tone for a productive first session with the ball.

Stalwart was Devon Conway, who kept the innings together on one end with his well-compiled 76 runs. His good knock had a lot of precise shot selection and patience involved to stall the Indian bowlers. Will Young chipped in with 18 runs before he too fell prey to Ashwin, leaving New Zealand’s middle order to take over responsibilities. Rachin Ravindra scored 65 runs, Daryl Mitchell scored 18 and got out by Washington Sundar.

At 2:30 PM, Glenn Phillips 1*, and Mitchell Santner 4* were at the crease, looking to rebuild the innings. Whereas Glenn Phillips seemed quite composed and tight in his approach, Mitchell Santner is still getting started out there and has much work to do in order to assist his partner.

Ravichandran Ashwin Steals the Spotlight

Leading the attack was none other than Ravichandran Ashwin who explained so far in three wickets. The spin, flight, and variation of Ashwin kept the New Zealand batsmen on their toes. His key wickets of Latham, Conway, and Young have kept India in the game, not letting New Zealand run away with a big score early on.

Apart from Ashwin’s performance, Indian fielding has been somewhat sloppy. Virat Kohli dropped a catch in the first session that might have just taken the game further away from New Zealand. That may come back to haunt Kohli later in the game as New Zealand will be looking to put together a strong platform.

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Rohit Sharma’s Defensive Captaincy

Rohit Sharma’s captaincy has been in the line of fire this session. Some renowned experts, comprising ex-Indian players, have lashed out at his defensive field placements which Conway made full utilization of. A bit more aggression from the Indian skipper could have imposed greater pressure on New Zealand and probably brought more wickets.

Rohit Sharma is known for his cool and composed behavior and will have to rethink his strategy in the coming sessions so that India can prevent New Zealand from putting up a challenging total.

Weather and Pitch Conditions

So far, Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium has been about favorable weather as far as cricket is concerned: clear skies and pleasant conditions. The pitch so far has given some purchase to the spinners, as was witnessed with Ashwin’s returns, but it remains a good surface for batting. If New Zealand’s middle order can survive initial pressure, the pitch may get further eased out, helping them reach a competitive score.

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How India Goes About Business From Here Onwards

India will look to field tighter and be a bit more proactive in trying to break through New Zealand’s batting order. Ashwin, given his form, will again be the key bowler for them but other bowlers like Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah picking wickets will be pretty important.

Much, though, will be left for New Zealand depending on how the rest of the day shapes between Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner. A decent partnership there and the Kiwis could well push towards a total that puts pressure back onto India when they come to bat.

Still, the game of cat and mouse between New Zealand’s batsmen and India’s bowlers is only expected to get further intense with each ball faced as Day 1 unfolds. The Kiwis are 208/6 and a lot of cricket is left in this vital Test match. Ashwin would continue to be India’s key player, but New Zealand would hope to further the good job from Conway and Ravindra. A session or two in the next sessions will be very crucial as a defining factor as to which team starts Day 2 on the front foot.

FAQs

Q: Who has been the star so far in the India vs New Zealand 2nd test match?

A: So far, Ravichandran Ashwin has been the star on Day 1, taking all three of New Zealand’s wickets with some sharp off-spin.

Q: How has India’s fielding been thus far?

A: India’s fielding has been poor thus far, and an important catch being dropped by Virat Kohli during the first session may have allowed New Zealand to be able to play freely.

Q: Why is Rohit Sharma receiving negative reviews on his captaincy on the 1st day of the 2nd test vs New Zealand?

A: Rohit Sharma has been at the receiving end, too, with many feeling his defensive field placements allowed Devon Conway to score more comfortably than he should have.

Q: What’s the weather like on day one of the 2nd test in Pune?

A: Weather’s favorable: bright and sunny, with ideal conditions for cricket at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.