Pune Test: Reckless India batters clueless against spin in horror morning session

India vs New Zealand, 2nd Test: India lost as many as six wickets for 91 runs on Friday morning. Indian batters failed the trial by spin as Mitchell Santner took four wickets in a sensational spell.

In Short

• India lost as many as six wickets in the morning session on Day 2
• Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant threw it away while playing cross-batted shots
• Mitchell Santner picked four wickets in a sensational spell

India was in disarray on the second morning of their second Test against New Zealand in Pune. In a shocking session of Test-match batting, India lost as many as six wickets, all of them to spin. None of the Indian batters, including Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli, looked comfortable against the New Zealand bowling attack, which was at its confidence best.

Mithcell Santner ran through the Indian batting line-up, picking up four wickets after bowling 14 overs on the trot. Part-time off-spinner Glenn Phillips also joined in on the party as he took two wickets to leave India reeling at 107 for 7 at Lunch on Day 2, trailing New Zealand's first innings total of 259 by 152 runs.

India lost six wickets for 91 runs on a disappointing morning session in which they lost all their big guns in the batting unit.

Pune Test, Day 2 updates

While India's batters were bundled out for 46 in the first innings of the Bengaluru Test after New Zealand rattled them with pace in overcast conditions, India failed the trial by spin in Bengaluru.

There were quite a few rash shots as none of the Indian batters looked to spend time in the middle on a pitch that was offering the spinners plenty of help. Santner kept it simple, allowing the pitch to do its job and create the seed of uncertainty in the Indian batters' minds.

Decorated commentator Ian Smith was critical of India's approach, opining that none of the Indian batters tried to hang around and get used to the conditions.

"None of them have prepared to bat it out. They believed they could just plunder these New Zealand attack and hit their way out of trouble. This is only Day 2 of this Test match. There is aeons of time to go. But, the way India were playing, none of them will be here by then," Smith said.

'DIDN'T EXPECT INDIA TO LOSE SIX'

Former India captain Anil Kumble said he was surprised by India's inability to survive the spin threat, adding that he didn't expect India would lose as many as six wickets in a session on Day 2 of the Test match.

"I don't think anyone of us expected this kind of a capitulation of the Indian batting on a surface like this. Yes, the New Zealand bowlers bowled exceptionally well. They showed intent, they put pressure on the Indian batters. But, some of the shot selection on this kind of surface. You needed to spend time and think about the importance of getting through the first 15-20 balls.

"Yes, I know, it's been difficult to pick the one that was keeping straight and those that turned. But, nobody expected India to lose six wickets."

THE BIG COLLAPSE AGAINST SPIN

The first to go was Shubman Gill, who tried to survive by defending and curbing his natural instincts against the spinners. Gill was not able to gauge which delivery would turn and which one would keep straight. He was eventually dismissed LBW by Santner.

Seeing Shubman struggle, the rest of the Indian batters adopted an aggressive approach. However, they were more reckless as the likes of Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant were bowled while playing cross-batted shots.

Sarfaraz Khan threw it away when he tried to hit Santner over the mid-off fielder, only managing to hit it straight to Will O'Rourke who was perfectly stationed just outside the 30-yard circle.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was hanging around with a solid 30, was dismissed by Glenn Phillips, who got one to sharply turn away from the left-hander.

R Ashwin was the last man to get out in the morning session. The all-rounder was out LBW to Santner while playing a fuller-length delivery from the backfoot.