More than the selectors, it was Gautam Gambhir who was behind the decision to add Washington Sundar to the India squad following the Bengaluru Test defeat.
The India head coach, on the eve of this second Test in Pune, had also emphasised the off-spinner all-rounder’s role, particularly against the left-handed batters in the New Zealand ranks.
Benching a bowler like Kuldeep Yadav, who has a varied skill-set, was a risk India took in this Test, especially with the Maharashtra Cricket Association pitch being conducive to spin. But Sundar was equally good to rise to the challenge in his first Test appearance in over three years, vindicating the team management’s faith in him on Thursday.
The Sundar gamble so far has certainly been a big hit for Team India as he single-handedly brought the hosts back into the contest with his 7/59. The way New Zealand were progressing, thanks to opener Devon Conway (76) andthe in-form Rachin Ravindra (65) who had driven them to 197/3 late in the opening day’s second session, their firstinnings looked headed towards a 300-plus total at least, which could have been a handful on this pitch.
Sundar, first brought on to bowl from the end opposite of the pavilion, didn’t look too effective in his first spell. But then, captain Rohit Sharma decided to bring him on from the pavilion end, from which Ravichandran Ashwin had taken the first three New Zealand wickets.
Ashwin’s statemate didn’t take too long to respond to the skipper’s call, cleaning up a well-set, solid-looking Rachin much against the run of play. It was a vital strike fromSundar which gave India a scope to peg the Black Caps back further, especiallywith the latter’s middle order being shaky.
The script unfolded to India’s liking as the visitors could post just 62 more runs following Rachin’s departure with their innings ending at 259. Sundar ensured he alone took all the remaining wickets with his off-spin before which the rest of the New Zealand line-up looked clueless.
Not that Sundar turned the ball square. The pitch had more assistance for spinners when they bowled from the pavilion end, and all an accurate Sundar needed to do wasbowl a touch quicker making good use of the seam and confuse rival batters by mixing regular off-spin with the one that goes straighter.
Among his seven wickets, three were those of left-handers (Rachin, Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner), while he completely bamboozled Tom Blundell and Daryl Mitchell with classical off-spin — the seam pointing towards leg gully consistently.
“Washy’s preparation was very good. He played some (Tamil Nadu Cricket Association-organised) league games (for MRF) and then performed in the Ranji Trophy game too (a match-haul of 6/88 against Delhi in the capital), which set him into a good rhythm,” former Tamil Nadu coachM. Venkatramana, also an ex-off-spinner who represented India in a Test and an ODI, told The Telegraph.
“Once he got his rhythm after getting Rachin’s wicket, he didn’t deviate from that length. He bowled well within himself, created doubts in the batters’ minds and gained the edge. He’s getting a good shape of his lines, which is helping him beat the bat.”
