After Pace, India Fail Spin Test; New Zealand Lead Soars To 301 Runs In Pune

India's inequacies against quality spin bowling stood thoroughly exposed, leaving side staring at its first ever home Test series loss to New Zealand after visitors claimed a formidable 301-run le on day two of second Test here on Friday.

Tom Latham (86) led New Zealand's charge with bat after Mitchell Santner's brilliant 7/53 destroyed India. His kck consolidated a handy 103-run first-innings le that Kiwis h grabbed before reaching 198/5 at stumps.

Tom Blundell (30 t out) h Glenn Phillips (7 t out) for company when stumps were drawn. only silver lining for India was Washington Sundar's continuing good show. He completed 11 wickets in match, ding four more to his career-best first-innings haul of seven.

New Zealand are looking at a historic maiden Test series win in India, having first come here in 1955-56.

ne of New Zealand batters faced any apparent trouble batting on pitch shortly after star-studded Indian line-up cut a sorry figure for second time in this series, making elementary mistakes.

In last Test in Bengaluru, ir all-time lowest score at home of 46 all-out caused India's first loss to New Zealand in 36 years in ir own backyard.

India haven't lost a Test series at home since ir defeat to England in 2012-13 season and ir unbeaten record in 18 series since n is under serious threat w.

India's highest successful chase in Tests at home was 387 against England at Chennai in December 2008.

On Friday afteron, India folded at a mere 156 in 45.3 overs as spunky New Zealand continued to perform way better than hosts.

As India endured yet ar 'one b session of play', six wickets fell in morning for a mere 91 runs which me pitch look unfavourable for batting when it was t case.

Skipper Latham led from front as he blunted Indian spinners with ease but New Zealand batters deserved full credit for executing ir plans.

Kiwis' batters were formidable in defence while y rotated strike deftly to keep pressure on Indians.

Latham did well to raise hopes for a first century since December 2022 but Washington Sundar ended his progress at 86 off 133 balls with 10 fours.

Every ded run tightened screws furr on India whose spinners appeared to have been out-bowled by ir Kiwi counterparts.

While Sundar completed his maiden 10-for in Tests with 4/56 after his 7/59 in first innings, R Ashwin took 1/64. Ravindra Jeja (11-1-50-0) continued to be wicket-less in game wherein spinners have ruled roost.

While Santner's orthodox spin tested Indians' defence and resolve, India's failure to rotate strike ded to ir woes.

biggest shock for India in day arrived in 24th over when ir batting superstar Virat Kohli missed a juicy full toss from Santner to be cleaned up for a nine-ball one.

sight of Kohli missing an incuous full toss angling into his wickets, going past his awkwardly swinging bat to crash into middle and leg stumps and leaving batter stare at ground beneath him in utter despair, was something that will linger for some time to come.

Yashasvi Jaiswal h done fairly well to reach 30 with four boundaries but going with hard hands to defend a delivery outside off, spinning away from his bat to take an edge to first slip, gave Glenn Phillips his first wicket.

If that wasn't eugh, Rishabh Pant 's (18) failure to re lack of bounce while going for a mighty heave across line against part-time spin of Phillips, resulted in ball crashing into his off-stump, leaving India in a desperate situation at 83 for five.

Sarfaraz Khan (11), whose recent outings include 222 t out in Irani Cup and 150 in last innings at Bengaluru, only h himself to blame after recklessly hitting one straight to mid-off for William O'Rourke to grab an easy catch, off Santner.