Washington Sundar Proves Rohit Sharma's Selection Decision Right, Scalps 7 For 59 As India Bowl New Zealand Out For 259

Washington Sundar, who replaced Kuldeep Yadav in the Playing 11, scalped 7 for 59 as India bowled out New Zealand for 259.

India's Washington Sundar celebrates with captain Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja after taking the wicket of New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra on the first day of the second test cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, in Pune, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.

Source : PTI

India have bowled out New Zealand for 259 in the first innings on Day 1 of the second Test match against New Zealand on Thursday (October 24) at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune. Washington Sundar, who replaced Kuldeep Yadav in the Playing 11, was the wrecker-in-chief for India, with the off-spinner finishing with figures of 7 for 59. This marks the first instance of all ten wickets taken by right-arm off-spinners for India in a men's Test innings with the three other wickets going to veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

While it was Ashwin who got the first three wickets for India, Sundar was enough to get rid of the rest of the opposition lineup. Sundar bowled 23.1 overs to get the 7 wickets, his best figures in a first-class match coming in Test match. Ashwin, the other wicket-taker for India, finished with figures of 3 for 88 from 24 overs as both the Tamil Nadu spun a web around the Kiwi batters on a black-soil Day 1 Pune surface.

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Indian Team Management Criticised For Playing Washington Sundar In Place Of Kuldeep Yadav

Notably, the Indian team management was criticised for playing Washington Sundar instead of Kuldeep Yadav. Several cricket experts including Sunil Gavaskar and Simon Doull it wasn't particularly the right move.

"The selection of Washington Sundar tells me that the Indian team was worried about their batting. He is in not just because of his off-spin but because he can get more runs at the lower order. Yes, I think there has been a lot of talk about the number of left-handers in the New Zealand batting line-up but if I had to do that then I would have picked another guy like Kuldeep Yadav, who can turn the ball away from the left-haders. He's pretty hand with the bat as well. Obviously, not as heavy-scoring as Sundar," Gavaskar said on commentary.

Doull, meanwhile, had said that that New Zealand would be happy that they won't have to face Kuldeep Yadav on this surface. However, it was Sundar, fresh off a superb all-round performance in Ranji Trophy who justified his selection against a left-handed heavy Kiwi batting lineup. Devon Conway top-scored for New Zealand with his 76 while Rachin Ravindra made 65.

Mitchell Santne, the only other notable contributor with the bat for New Zealand, made 33. Kiwis are 1-0 up in the series and had won the toss and elected to bat first in Pune.