Twitter Reactions: Washington Sundar bags seven-for, registers best figures in First-Class cricket

Washington Sundar made his comeback to the Test arena for the first time since March 2021 a memorable affair as he spun a web around New Zealand to pick up a seven-wicket haul in the second Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Thursday, October 24.

The spin-bowling all-rounder was drafted into the squad after the first Test in Bengaluru as the team management wanted another off-spinner against the plethora of left-handed batters in the New Zealand side. When India captain Rohit Sharma announced at the toss that Sundar was replacing Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI, some experts questioned the call as they felt that the left-arm wrist spinner could have been more handy on the spin-friendly black soil surface in Pune. However, Sundar has won everyone's hearts with a sensational performance with the ball.

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The first three New Zealand batters fell to Ravichandran Ashwin but the rest of them were bamboozled by Sundar's relentless accuracy and guile. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder used the conditions to his advantage and targeted the stumps, forcing the batters to play as many deliveries as possible. He opened his account by picking up the important wicket of the in-form Rachin Ravindra and didn't look back.

He bowled out five batters and dismissed Daryl Mitchell LBW. Glenn Phillips holed out to long-off and that was the only time Sundar needed help from one of his teammates to pick up a wicket. Sundar challenged both the edges of the batters as the turn and bounce he got from the wicket was too hot to handle for the Kiwis.

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The 25-year-old took his first five-wicket haul in First-Class cricket since August 2022. This is also his best figures in red-ball cricket as he bowled 23.1 overs and bagged seven wickets for 59 runs. His exhilarating last spell helped India make a strong comeback in the game as they bowled out New Zealand for 259. This was after the tourists reached 197/3 on the back of half-centuries from Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra.

Here's how 'X' users reacted to Washington Sundar's seven-for on Day 1: