Virat Kohli hasn’t been at the peak of his Test batting prowess this year, but a 70-run knock against New Zealand in Bengaluru would have certainly bolstered the veteran batter’s confidence. When Kohli took to the crease during the 2nd Test match in Pune, the 36-year-old batter struggled to pick up from where he left off in the last Test match.
Notably, Kohli tried to sweep a full toss from Mitchell Santner only for the ball to hit his stumps and leaving the veteran batter in disbelief.
India struggle in Pune, Kiwis run riot:Â
Meanwhile, the Indian batting lineup fell apart shortly after the wicket of Virat Kohli. Aside from a handy knock by Ravindra Jadeja, no Indian batter could make a mark, and the team was eventually bowled out for 156, falling 103 runs short of New Zealand’s first-innings total of 259.
New Zealand, on the other hand, had a quick start and reached 85 runs while losing just 2 wickets by the end of the second session on Day 2. As things stand, the Kiwis are eyeing a historic series win. Notably, they secured a dominant 8-wicket victory in Bengaluru, marking the first such win in 36 years.
India, however, will be hoping that their bowlers can bring them back into the match. The key players on a Day 3 pitch in Pune will be Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar. Sundar already impressed with a 7-wicket haul for 59 runs in the first innings, and Team India will be hoping for a similar performance from their bowlers in the second innings. This Test has also gained renewed importance for India in the World Test Championship rankings, where the Men in Blue currently lead with 98 points. However, standings could change quickly if they lose the remaining Tests, with a challenging four-Test series against Australia looming ahead.
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