NEW DELHI: India’s star batter Virat Kohli's ongoing difficulties against spinners in Asian conditions were on full display once again during the second Test against New Zealand at the MCA Stadium in Pune.
Chasing a daunting target of 359 runs, India found themselves in a challenging position after losing two quick wickets in successive overs. Kohli, alongside all-rounder Washington Sundar, tried to stabilize the innings with a cautious 20-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Scorecard: India vs New Zealand, 2nd Test
However, New Zealand’s match hero Mitchell Santner had other plans. In the 30th over of India’s second innings, Santner trapped Kohli leg-before wicket, leaving the Pune crowd in stunned silence.
Kohli, who looked steady with 17 runs off 40 balls, attempted to play an arm ball off the backfoot but missed, and the ball hit him on the pads. Kohli reviewed the decision, but the ball was shown to be clipping the leg stump, upholding the umpire's call. The Indian batter was forced to walk back to the pavilion, once again falling prey to Santner's guile, just as he did in the first innings.
With this dismissal, Santner became the first left-arm spinner to dismiss Kohli in both innings of a Test match.
Santner wasn’t done yet - shortly after, he bowled Sarfaraz Khan for 9, completing his second five-wicket haul of the match. This remarkable performance made Santner the first New Zealand spinner to claim two five-wicket hauls in a single Test on Indian soil.
The last spinner to achieve such a feat against India was Australia's Steve O'Keefe, who took 6/35 in each innings at the same Pune venue during a Test in 2017.
Santner's brilliance has put New Zealand in a commanding position as India struggle to chase down the massive target.
