Pune: Washington Sundar was not even part of the Indian squad. A brilliant all-round show 152 and 6 wickets) for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy game against Delhi prompted the Indian team management to summon Sundar for the second Test against New Zealand.
With the pitch at MCA Stadium tailored to suit the slower bowlers, Sundar was drafted into the playing XI as third spinner – ahead of Kuldeep Yadav and Azar Patel, who were part of the squad.
What a great move it turned out to be!
The tall off-spinner ripped through the middle and lower-order batters in a magical third spell to register dream figures of 23.1-4-59-7.
New Zealand, having won a good toss, were bowled out for 259.
India were jolted early, as skipper Rohit Sharma (0) was castled by Tim Southee in the third over. Yashasvi Jaiswal (batting 6) and Shubman Gill (batting 10) were at the crease when the opening day’s play ended with India on 16/1.
It was a tale of two halves for New Zealand’s batting lineup.
High on confidence after winning the opening Test by 8 wickets at Bengaluru, New Zealand looked on course for a big first-innings total despite danger man Ashwin picking up the first three wickets. First-Test centurion and Man-of-the-Match Rachin Ravindra was going great guns in partnership with Daryll Mitchell, having found a way to negotiate Ashwin.
But they hadn’t reckoned with Ashwin’s fellow-offie and statemate Sundar.
Sundar broke the 59-run partnership with a dream delivery which pitched on off stump and went past Ravindra’s defensive bat to hit the off stick.
All remaining wickets were snared by the 25-year-old offie, with five of his victims having their stumps disturbed.
It was not only Sundar’s best Test performance, but also in first-class cricket.
For a man who had bagged 6 wickets his previous 4 Test matches, Sundar claimed 7 in one innings alone.
Indian batters have a battle ahead on a turning pitch as New Zealand have four spinners in their lineup. Sundar may have a role to play with the bat as well. But whatever happens from here on, October 24 will remain a red-letter day in Sundar’s life.
Brief Scores
New Zealand 1st innings: 259 all out in 79.1 overs (Devon Conway 76, Rachin Ravindra 65; Washington Sundar 7/59, Ravichandran Ashwin 3/64).
India 1st innings: 16/1 in 11 overs.
Match to continue on Day 2.
