Cracks in the Citadel: India's home run of 18 straight wins threatens to end | Cricket News

Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah (PTI Photo)

PUNE: It's hard to say what hurt India the most – Mitchell Santner's best-ever bowling performance or the team's poor performance with the bat. Or the decision to opt for a spin-friendly track here after losing the first test in Bengaluru. Then there was Tom Latham's crucial knock of 86 and the visitors scored over 60 runs from sweeps and reverse sweeps.
India, trailing 1-0 in the series, wanted to stay ahead. You are now on the defensive.
Things didn't go well for India on the second day of the second Test against New Zealand at the Gahunje Stadium on Friday. As a result, their 18-Test home win streak is in serious danger of ending. In response to the Kiwis' 259 in the first innings, India were out for 156. Then Latham's 86 (133b; 10x4s) helped New Zealand reach 198-5 at stumps. The visitors are now 301 runs ahead and still have plenty of time.
Santner surpassed Washington Sundar's performance of 7:59 with his own score of 7:53. Like Washington, he was not part of the previous test. Now both have recorded their best numbers ever. Santner bowled unchanged for more than 19 overs in the morning session. The 32-year-old was playing his 29th Test in nine years and was rewarded for his maturity, change of pace and varied length.

Santner was “shocked” after he bowled Virat Kohli with a full toss (1 off 9 balls). The former India captain was so upset with himself that after hitting the air with the bat, he hit the air again and disturbed the wickets.
Those who dreamed of India taking a 200-plus lead on a deteriorating pitch faced a reality check at this point.
From 50-1 in the 22nd over to 95-6 in the 34th over, India's collapse would have shocked fans. This isn't the first time they've collapsed in this series either – it happened in the first innings in Bengaluru and also in the latter part of the second innings in this Test.
India needed a batsman like Latham who showed his hunger and effectiveness to bat for longer on this pitch. But no one raised their hand. On the other hand, the Kiwis built partnerships.

If Kohli's dismissal suggested it wouldn't be India's day, Rishabh Pant had other plans. He has been given license to thrill and kill. But the police must also use their weapons responsibly. Pant (18) lived dangerously and didn't bother to wait for the right time. He missed a hoick and was bowled by Glenn Phillips.
Meanwhile, Sarfaraz Khan (11) gave catching practice in the deep middle. He offered a difficult low catch to initially slide past Santner, but the fielder couldn't pluck it. The first Test centurion had also attempted a slog sweep, with the only problem being that the bat didn't connect with the ball.
The fall of other Indian batsmen was not a result of hasty shots. But the applications from Shubman Gill (30), Ravindra Jadeja (38) and Washington (18*) left a lot to be desired. Washington didn't even try to encourage the strike with No. 11 Jasprit Bumrah. The Tamil Nadu southpaw hit a four off the last ball of the previous over.
India failed to capitalize on the difficult chances (Pant and Gill) when it was their turn to make amends on the field. Santner spoke with empathy about India's efforts. “A few referee decisions and a few difficult chances didn’t go in the right direction,” he said. But India were lucky to bring in Rachin Ravindra (9) early, even though the situation was set for him at 89-2. The left-hander misread the line of a Washington delivery and was bowled.