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How Washington Sundar Used The Dryness Of Pune Pitch To Knock Down Rachin Ravindra?

Aashay Chopade

Sundar got the big wicket of Rachin Ravindra (Source@BCCI/X.com)Sundar got the big wicket of Rachin Ravindra (Source@BCCI/X.com)

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Washington Sundar was a surprise call-up to the Indian Test side after they lost the opening Test in Bengaluru. The reason for his inclusion was the presence of plenty of left-handers in the New Zealand's batting line-up. However, very few expected him to directly fit into the XI for the second Test, but India made a bold move and now the off-spinner has produced a beauty to get rid of well-set Rachin Ravindra.

The pitch is dry and the spinners are into the game on the opening day itself which are not good signs for the batters of both the sides. India are playing to their advantage though, as New Zealand batters tend to struggle against spin, and so far all the wickets have been taken by the spinners. Ravi Ashwin got the initial three wickets, while Washington Sundar has got the next two ones of Rachin Ravindra and Tom Blundell.

The ball to Rachin Ravindra was a classic off-spinner's wicket and it included both the skills of the bowler and help from the pitch. It was a start of a new spell for Washington Sundar and on the very first ball he went wide of the crease from 'round the wicket to the Southpaw. 

Washington Sundar Uses The Angle Of The Crease To Great Effect

The ball was coming in with the angle and Rachin Ravindra lunged forward to defend it. Normally when the bowler uses that angle, the ball is expected to come into the left-hander or turn minimally. Rachin had that in mind and almost covered his off-stump. However, the ball pitched just behind the fuller-length and turned away to beat the outside edge of the blade and knocked over the stumps. The ball was bowled at a decent pace at 93.2 Kph which gave Rachin Ravindra very less time and it surprised the batter big time. 

However, Washington Sundar along with other players were thrilled to see the back of a dangerous New Zealand batter who punished India in the first Test with a hundred. The wicket displayed the dryness of the pitch and the amount of turn on offer, and Indian spinners would now be looking to make more inroads as the pitch gets even more difficult to bat.