IND vs NZ: Washington Sundar, the spinner brought into the team for the second and third tests, dismissed star New Zealand batter Rachin Ravindra for the third time in the series.
Sundar was not initially a part of the squad for the India vs. New Zealand red-ball series but was later brought into the squad as an additional spinner for the second and third tests.
Rachin Ravindra has been New Zealand’s master batter in sub-continent conditions, while the spinning track at Pune found Sundar breaking all hell loose for New Zealand as he got his maiden 10-wicket haul in First Class cricket.
After dismissing him twice in the Pune test for a decent half-century in the first inning and then early on in the second, the spinner has also broken open his stumps wide in the first inning of the Wankhede test.
Before dismissing Ravindra, Sundar also got rid of the skipper, Tom Latham, as New Zealand were reduced to 97/3 at lunch on Day 1.
The post-lunch period went completely in favour of the Indians, as the partnership between Will Young and Daryl Mitchell was the last standout partnership for the Blackcaps before the Indian spinners wreaked havoc.
Ravindra Jadeja struck twice in the same over with Will Young caught at slips followed by Blundell being bowled out for a duck. Also, Glenn Phillips fell to Jadeja before the tea break.
Post Tea, in the third session of the day, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja went on to pick the remaining 4-wickets in no time, as New Zealand were bowled out for a minor 235 runs. Jadeja with the 5-for in this game, went past the likes of great Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma as the highest wicket-taker in red-ball cricket for India.
India’s supposed chances at the WTC
India is not at all out of the World Test Championship race despite their huge drop in the PCT, which they recorded after the series loss to the New Zealand side, losing the first two test matches.
India is still at the top of the points table of the WTC, while the PCT nears the defending champions Australia. The Australians, on the other hand, are looking forward to fancying their chances in the home BGT they would play against India.
India would have to manage a win in 4 of their next 6 WTC appearances, of which 5 games would be in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Losing any more than 2 games would mean India will also have to depend on other fellow contenders to enter into the third consecutive WTC final to be held at Lord’s in 2025.
