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Washington Sundar Bags Five-Wicket Haul To Stage A Memorable Comeback Against NZ In Pune Test

Washington Sundar in the Pune Test (Source:@CricCrazyJohns/X.com)Washington Sundar in the Pune Test (Source:@CricCrazyJohns/X.com)

Washington Sundar was added into the Indian squad for the second Test to tackle the Kiwi left-handers. The team management then surprised everyone by deciding to play him in the XI ahead of Kuldeep Yadav, and the off-spinner has repaid the faith shown by selectors, by bagging a seven-wicket haul on the very first day of the Pune Test.

Sundar did not get any success in the opening session, but came back with great plans in the second session. New Zealand were going strong at 197-3 when he started his new spell and on the very first ball, he got the better of Rachin Ravindra with a beauty. He soon removed Tom Blundell with another cracker of a delivery and then ran through the Kiwi batting line-up to shut down Kiwis for just 259.

Washington Sundar Proves His Credentials As A Off-Spinner

Five of those seven wickets were bowled and Sundar varied his pace, line and length beautifully to completely bamboozle New Zealand batters on a pitch that has some good help for the spinners. Ravi Ashwin bagged other three wickets and it is just the sixth instance of all ten 1st innings wickets being taken by spinners on Day 1 of a Test in India.

It is also Washington Sundar's first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket since August 2022 and it is his first in first-class on Indian soil since October 2017. Also, India with a dominating performance in this first innings' have taken a pole position in the second Test and would now look to capitalise on a good start with the bat in hand.