The Indian cricket team is currently experiencing yet another middle-order batting collapse in their ongoing three match Test series against New Zealand. In Bengaluru, it was the failure to cope with the seam and swing bowling of the opposition and in Pune, such a batting performance was disrupted by a spin-friendly surface. On the second morning of the second Test, Virat Kohli was subjected to a freakish bowled out by Mitchell Santer that saw the seasoned batter completely missing a generous full toss as his intention was to go across the line.
It was a shot that left the Pune crowd into awed silence with even Kohli expressing his disgust at the failed attempt as he turned back to head for the pavilion. Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar deemed it as the ‘worst shot’ played in Kohli’s career.
“Oh dear! Virat will know himself that he has just played the worst shot of his career to get out. Got to feel for him…coz as always he came out with solid & honest intent,” Manjrekar posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Kohli’s last 11 outings, he has only managed to score a half-century on 2 occasions and the team management of India will definitely not appreciate such inconsistency from the best batter in the present era.
The team from New Zealand on the other hand, effectively capitalized on the spin conducive pitch of the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune and mercilessly battered India. The tourists batted first made 259 in their first innings after Washington Sundar run riot with the ball taking seven wickets in the innings.
Kiwis were looking threatening yet again along with Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra who both escorted the ‘men in blue’ with well constructed fifties. Nevertheless, thanks to Sunar and R Ashwin, the Indian team managed to contain them to such a score that at this point appears impossible to overtake considering their showing against spin.
India came out to bat once again on 16/1 overnight and with the pairing of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill strongly at the crease looking good, the score was at 50/1. However, Gill only contributed 30 as Santner broke the partnership which in turn caused a collapse.
