New Zealand Near Historic Test Series Win Over India in Pune
In Pune, New Zealand is just three runs away from a historic Test series win against India on Day 3 of the second Test. India struggled at 178/7 during the tea break, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja still at the crease. Under head coach Gautam Gambhir, India faces its first home series defeat, despite efforts from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill to chase a challenging 359-run target.
Mitchell Santner was instrumental in New Zealand’s success, troubling Indian batsmen with his precise bowling. Gill was dismissed early, and Jaiswal was caught by Daryl Mitchell. Washington Sundar and Virat Kohli tried to stabilize the innings, but Santner trapped Kohli, and Rishabh Pant was run out, adding to India’s troubles. Sarfaraz Khan and Sundar also fell, leaving India in a precarious position.
Earlier, Jadeja had dismantled New Zealand’s tail, restricting them to 255. Jaiswal and captain Rohit Sharma started India’s chase, but Santner’s bowling proved challenging. Rohit was caught by Will Young, and Gill’s arrival brought hope, but New Zealand’s bowlers maintained pressure.
India has only once chased a 300-plus total successfully, back in 2008 against England. Despite the odds, Jaiswal and Gill’s aggressive play showed India’s potential. Jaiswal’s elegant shots and Gill’s sweeps were highlights, but New Zealand’s bowlers, led by Santner, kept control.
| Brief Score |
|---|
| New Zealand 259 & 255 (Tom Latham 86, Glenn Phillips 48*; Washington Sundar 4-56) |
| India 156 & 178/7 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 77, Shubman Gill 23; Mitchell Santner 5-72) |
Doubts Revealed
Test series -: A Test series is a set of cricket matches played between two teams. Each match can last up to five days, and the team that wins the most matches wins the series.
Pune -: Pune is a city in India, located in the state of Maharashtra. It is known for its educational institutions and cultural heritage.
Gautam Gambhir -: Gautam Gambhir is a former Indian cricketer who is now a coach. He was known for his batting skills and played a key role in India’s cricket successes.
Yashasvi Jaiswal -: Yashasvi Jaiswal is a young Indian cricketer who plays as a batsman. He is known for his talent and has been part of the Indian cricket team.
Shubman Gill -: Shubman Gill is an Indian cricketer who is a promising young batsman. He has played for India in various international matches.
Mitchell Santner -: Mitchell Santner is a cricketer from New Zealand. He is known for his bowling skills, especially in spin bowling, which is effective in controlling the game.
Ravindra Jadeja -: Ravindra Jadeja is an Indian cricketer known for his all-round abilities. He is skilled in both batting and bowling, and is an important player for India.
300-plus total -: A 300-plus total in cricket means scoring more than 300 runs in an innings. It is considered a challenging target to chase and win.
