In an exciting encounter between the team at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune Indiamedium dough, Sarfaraz Khanhe maneuvered himself once more New Zealand’s left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner. This dismissal came in the second innings of the second Test match where Sarfaraz managed a low score of just 9 runs, contributing to India’s struggles in the ongoing series. Trailing 0-1 after losing the first Test, the team is now on the brink of defeat in this match, chasing a daunting target of 359 runs.
Mitchell Santner gets Sarfaraz Khan
The Indian batting line-up faced a significant challenge in the fourth innings, losing seven wickets for just 178 runs. The situation worsened as Sarfaraz was dismissed on the second ball of the 36th over. Santner straightened after the strike and delivered a slow, flying ball that eluded Sarfaraz’s outside edge and hit the stumps. It marked Santner’s second consecutive five-wicket haul in the match, further cementing his status as a key player for New Zealand.
Also WATCH: Ravindra Jadeja removes MS Dhoni to run William O’Rourke on Day 3 of the second Test
We present the video:
It’s not the pitch, its Mitch 🤷🏻♂️#INDvNZ #IDFCFirst Bank TestTrophy #TeamIndia #Santner #JioCinemaSports pic.twitter.com/3KUKUszQfM
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) October 26, 2024
Ravindra Jadeja: A lone batsman
As India’s hopes dwindled, Ravindra Jadeja stood as the last recognizable batter at the crease. With over 130 runs still needed for victory, Jadeja faced an uphill battle against New Zealand’s formidable bowling attack. Bottom line, special Akash Deep and jasprit bumrahIndia lost the series by 42 runs and the Pune Test by 113 runs to offer little or no reassurance as they lost Jadeja.
Despite his recent struggles, the former Indian cricketer Akash Chopra He expressed his strong support for Sarfaraz’s inclusion in the upcoming team Border-Gavaskar Trophy series Australia. Chopra acknowledged Sarfaraz’s commendable performances England and emphasized that his selection should be considered based on his potential contribution to the team. However, he expressed uncertainty about Sarfaraz’s inclusion in the playing XI for Australia.
“In the squad, yes; In the playing XI, we don’t know yet” Chopra said during a media interaction. He noted that with five Test matches to come, having a bigger squad could be beneficial. “Sarfaraz promised when he played; there’s no reason to think he won’t be part of the touring squad.” he added.
With India battling these odds on home soil, their chances of winning this Test series hang by a thread. The team’s batting woes continue to plague them, with their inability to post significant totals proving costly. With New Zealand poised for a historic win in India – something that hasn’t happened in over a decade – the pressure is on Rohit Sharma and must regroup and respond effectively.
