India vs New Zealand 2024/25, IND vs New Zealand 2nd Test Match Report, October 24-28, 2024

tea New Zealand 201 for 5 (Mitchell 16*, Ashwin 3-48, Washington 2-34) vs India

India called up a second offspinner from outside the squad, ostensibly to extend batting speed without compromising on ball release from the left-hand batsmen; The offspinner in question combined with the existing offspinner to push New Zealand back, despite two left-handed batsmen scoring half-centuries to take the lead.

On a pitch with much less bounce, batters were able to prevail against the quicks, who couldn't find any movement off the surface anyway. Ashwin's introduction brought India instant success, but India did not create long enough chances from either side to take quick wickets. However, every now and then the ball spun from the right length, just as Washington did, to go past Ravindra, suggesting that batting last would not be easy.

Nothing is always easy in Test cricket but this was one of the easier starts to an innings with the openers racing to 30 in seven overs without any problems. Ashwin needed just five balls to drive one inside and then turn it outside edge to catch Tom Latham lbw.

This ball turned from straight, but the turn was not yet consistent or threatening. Conway managed to sweep well and also hit runs off the back foot while Ashwin and Washington Sundar bowled with in-out fields. Twenty of his 76 runs came from sweeps and reverse sweeps.

After lunch, when India started with Jasprit Bumrah and Washington, runs came freely: 35 from eight overs. Ashwin then brought first control and then the wicket of Conway. Again the ball spun, but this time it was the drift and dip that put Conway out of position, and the spin made him look like he was running into a ball he didn't need to play.

Bengaluru man of the match Ravindra brought some much-needed stability to New Zealand as Daryl Mitchell was extremely uncertain at the start of his innings. He survived an LBW on the umpire's orders, played both types of risky sweeps and only seemed comfortable after about 20 balls.

However, Ravindra gave nothing to the bowlers. Akash Deep almost caught him at short midwicket but the hit was too heavy for a fielder so close to catch. An outside edge after two bouncers managed to beat Slip and add to his fifty.

After a third pass just before the tee, Washignton managed to turn the ball out from center to take the top off. Now something started to move and Washington, perhaps guilty of being too quick at times, slowed his pace to pull Blundell past the goal and turn the ball over for the classic offspinner's dismissal.