SUNDAR ' SEVEN A DAY MADE IN HEAVEN
October ' 24 A cold morning in Pune the " QUEEN OF DECCAN " lined up for an exciting test match between the wounded Indians versus an High fly confidence Kiwis. This game in particular is an all important match the series where Indians are trailing 1-0 to the 11mens from Oceania continent. Indians need to win this match to stay alive in the series also to continue the 12 yr old streak of not losing a test series at home since 2012.As we come into this game toss was correctly called by the captain of blackcaps Tom Latham where he decided to bat first in the traditional slow-turner, Batting friendly Indian (Pune) wicket, Indians made three changes from the last test match by adding SHUBMAN GILL in place of KL RAHUL, AKASH DEEP in for SIRAJ and surprisingly added WASHINGTON SUNDAR in place of KULDEEP YADAV. With Pune has seen only 2 international test matches before this match; one is famous Australia's win over India in 2017 by 333 runs and second being India beating Proteas (SA) by an innings where the recurring in chief was India's former captain THE KING Virat Kohli who scored unbeaten 254*. Interestingly in both the matches team batted first have won the match. Is New Zealand will become the first team to beat India in India in test match since 2012? time will answer.
Now coming in to the game as it started sharply at 9:30 am with Jasprit Bumrah had the red cherry in the hand up against the skipper Tom Latham and ever consistent Devon Conway in the other end. As Bumrah progressed both the players where playing the faster bowlers with ease by smashing boundaries after boundaries in both the overs of Bumrah and Akash Deep. At the stroke of 8th over Captain Sharma ji decided to bring the spinners in to the attack and he started with his chief magician; The Legend Ravichandran Ashwin, once again he never let the captain down as he delivers his magic in his 4th ball of his opening over by dismissing his favorite batsman and opposition captain Tom Latham. While ravi CHANDRAN started bowling in one end everybody expected INDRAN(Jadeja) in another end but the skipper decided to bring another Tamil Nadu spinner who is playing his first test match for India since March 2021 to be precise after 1329 days. Our star of the day started his opening spell with the figures of 6 Overs ,10 Runs ,3 Maidens a tidy start which stopped the run flow from his end. As day goes Rohit Sharma cleverly rotated his 3 spinners in tandem in which ASH ANNA was the pick of the lot as he got 2 wickets at the stroke of lunch.
After lunch the play resumed with Bumrah has the ball in the hand this time for his 2nd spell but Conway had better plans to counter him as he smoked 3 boundaries of his over and notches his 2nd consecutive 50 of this series, With post lunch session started with Bumrah and Jadeja against the dynamic CSK/KIWI duo of Rachin and Conway who are up for the challenge as they countered the first half of the 2nd session. Once they started to attack again Rohit called his chief magician to produce a breakthrough as ASH ANNA delivers his magic once again by dismissing well set Devon Conway for 76.After Conway got out its Rachin who was playing exactly like Rahul+Sachin as Indian bowlers have no clue to dismiss him where he brought up his second consecutive 50 of the series which he continued where he left from Bengaluru. Indians in the MCA Pune stadium where starring in worries as they cant able to see another Rachin's masterclass. As the clock slowly ticks into 2'o' clock 15 minutes before Tea captain Rohit Re-introduced his comeback man Washington to bowl for last 15 minutes before tea. Particular at this moment Sundar bowled a JAFFA!!! an undercutter leaves away from the left hander clips the top of off stump of Rachin where the entire stadium erupts with a joy of getting an answer for the question which was asked by Rachin in past three innings. Sundar's wickets tally started as well as the downfall of kiwis 1st innings as he bundled out Blundell with an dream off spinner delivery which pitches on outside off stump region and goes through the gate to hit the middle stump, As this through the gate wicket paves the way for the tea day1.
With the pre-tea session goes into the hand of Indians the post-tea session got spiced up as Sundar slowly started to spun his web through his fingers with the red cherry into the kiwis batters. Pune's crowd slowly saw that something special is unfolding in front of them as Sundar started the session by trapping Daryl Mitchell to a LBW which also includes an daring review by the skipper. Followed by this wicket a small partnership was began to grow between Philips and Santner. as our successful duo of Jaddu and Ash cant able to make any inroads in this partnership between them. As partnership grows once again captain gone to his Go-To bowler of the day Sundar to break the partnership according to that he bowled a shortish fuller length delivery where Glen directly deposited into the hands of Ashwin at Long Off. Once Glen gone tail has started to come as Sundar got his 4th wicket he has an eye for his 5th wicket. The very next ball Southee edges the ball which gone straight into the hands of Rishabh where he drops a straight one which made Sundar stayed at four but God has better plans for him in coming overs.
Again Sundar came to bowl his follow-up over in the spell as he bowled a brilliant ball from around the stumps "WHACK!!!" A sound in the off stump of Southee as Sundar gone on to take his maiden 5-fer for the country. With 5 in the bank for Sundar, 8 inside the rooms of kiwis. with 2 more in the center Sundar eyed more than his jersey number(5), Sharma gave an extended spell where Sundar got his 6th in the form of Ajax Patel where the middle stump was uprooted, With picking 6 in the match everybody already got ready to praise him for the day but Washington had other ideas as he finishes things off in style by squaring up the Santner by hitting the top of off to get his carrier best figures of 7/59 in tremendous fashion. With ball in his hand he leads the team to the dressing room after bundling out the kiwis for 259. Where All the 10 wickets picked up TAMILNADU spinners.
With last 11 overs left in the day to play Indians started their 1sr innings as Southee stunned the Indian captain by dismissing for a Duck(0) by a beautiful textbook outswinger which squared him up and hits the top of off stump. After the Rohit's wicket Jaiswal and Gill safely played the remaining overs and made sure no other Indians wickets are falling, As stumps on DAY 1 India 16/1, Which paves way for exciting DAY 2 on cards.
- JEEVA PRAKASH SK
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