Mitchell Santner’s stellar seven-wicket haul on Friday put New Zealand in pole position to seal a first test series victory in India and the spinner said varying his pace on a tricky pitch had proved crucial.
Santner’s previous best figures in test cricket were 3-34 and the 32-year-old finished with 7-53 on day two of the second test in Pune as New Zealand skittled India for 156 after making 259 in the first innings.
The Black Caps reached 5-198 for a lead of 301 and will look to hand India their first series defeat at home since 2012.
Santner’s haul included the prized wicket of Virat Kohli, the Indian maestro flummoxed by a full toss that dipped late and crashed into his stumps to spark the collapse.
“I think it was more of a shock getting Kohli out with a full toss. He doesn’t usually miss those. It was slightly slower through the air and I tried to change it up. But usually if you bowl those, they get hit for six,” Santner said.
“There was a little bit there (for the spinners), which was nice, and the change of pace was key today.”
Santner said it was “satisfying” to be in a position to win a game in spin-friendly conditions that India have thrived on in the past.
“We’ve seen India squeeze a lot of teams for a long time. It was pleasing with the bat as well, trying to fire some shots and play some sweeps to take on the bowlers, because we know on the flip side as a bowler … it can upset your length,” he added.
“In the past we’ve come here and just tried to block it out and eventually one has got your name on it. We spoke about that, try to fire the first shot or have a little more intent and see what happens.
“The job’s not finished with the bat, but when the guys have shown that they can sweep, or use their feet and get down to the pitch … we’ve been in better positions to score and defend.”
India names squad for Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Seamer Mohammed Shami will not play in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy test series against Australia while spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been sidelined with a groin injury as the country’s cricket board (BCCI) announced an 18-member squad on Friday.
Shami, who has not played for India since the 2023 one-day World Cup due to an ankle injury, hasn’t been named in the Rohit Sharma-led squad for the five-match test series starting from November 22 in Perth.
India has opted for Akash Deep as a third seamer behind Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj while spinner Kuldeep will miss the test series due to a chronic left groin issue.
India squad for Australian Test series
Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar
Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed
Reuters
