WATCH: Tim Southee cleans up Rohit Sharma with a jaffa on Day 1, skipper departs for duck

India captain Rohit Sharma had a tough day with the bat in the second Test against New Zealand at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. The 37-year-old had a good chance to lead by example, especially after a defeat in the first Test in Bengaluru but the veteran batter couldn’t get going and departed for a duck.

He looked to be in a bit of a difficult spot as Tim Southee’s swing bothered him and the former New Zealand captain eventually got the better of him in the third over of the match. The captain failed to read the line and length as his off-stump was hit. Rohit was disappointed with his effort and walked back with a pale face.

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India meanwhile finished the day with 16/1. The hosts are trailing by 243 runs and the second day will be vital for them as India will be eager to take a strong lead and put pressure on New Zealand, especially as they are trailing in the series at the moment.

Rohit sharma out pic.twitter.com/7oMHwnNdtJ

— Virat (@chiku_187) October 24, 2024

Meanwhile, New Zealand were in well control of the second Test before Washington Sundar wreaked havoc towards the end of the second session and the beginning of the third on Day 1. The off-spinner picked up a seven-wicket haul, bundling the Kiwis to 259 runs in the first innings. 

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Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picked up the wickets of Tom Latham, Will Young and Devon Conway early on and after which, it was all Sundar show. The Kiwi batters had trouble reading Sundar’s line and were losing wickets like a house of cards. Notably, he was out of India’s scheme of things in red-ball cricket, having played his last game in 2021 but on his return, Sundar looked highly impressive and after that performance, he may as well travel to Australia for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, slated to begin in less than a month’s time.