Discover how New Zealand is poised for a historic victory in India. Explore the latest updates, insights, and analysis on this thrilling sports journey.
Introduction:
India is staring into the abyss of a home series defeat for the first time in 12 years as New Zealand put it all together to dominate an interesting second Test. Mitchell Santner’s career-best performance left India reeling at 156, followed by the most comprehensive batting innings led by captain Tom Latham. On the third day, it would be interesting to see how the visitors managed to come out as winners with a lead of 301 and five wickets still in hand – a position good enough to keep their hosts significantly under pressure.
See also:Â New Zealand Clinch Historic Win Over India in 1st Test at Bengaluru
Unstoppable Santner’s Bowling Attack
Seven wickets by Santner were an impossible feat for a player who had not taken more than four wickets in an innings of Test cricket before. For the left-arm spinner, there was a pitch that offered just enough turn and variable bounce to unsettle the great Indian batting lineup. Even from his first few deliveries, he knew his Indian batters were up for a challenge. Santner’s variations came as naturally as he bowled six bowled or LBW dismissals, each from precise lines and lengths.

A lot of pressure with each over, Santner showed off his skill and patience against a lineup that feeds off home. He has been incredibly tenacious and strategic in defining Kiwi’s campaign thus far in this series, leaving India’s batting depth vulnerable on a testing pitch.
India’s Vulnerabilities Against Spin
Even though India recently won at home, their batting came a cropper against Santner’s unyielding spin and accuracy. Santner, along with Glenn Phillips, mooted India’s big three – Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant, as both the spinners bowled aggressively and smartly.

In the first session, Gill’s resistance was tested before he fell to a perfectly pitched ball that did not turn, bringing Virat Kohli to the crease. However, Kohli’s stay was cut short when he misjudged a full toss from Santner, which drifted in and found his stumps. The excitement of India’s crowd over Kohli soon became silent, symbolizing the larger struggles of India’s lineup.

Santner continued the spell to make a more significant impact, catching the sides of Sarfaraz Khan and R Ashwin along with others. India could not address the spin issue as the attack Santner presented them with did not let them settle. Instead, the Kiwi side exposed the fragility against spin before presenting the hosts with less than an ideal option.

Latham Leads with a Confident Batting Display
The Kiwi batsmen, spearheaded by Tom Latham, commenced a well-thought-out attack on the Indian spinners after giving away several overs as the inspired bowling by India had thrown the Kiwis in a pretty tricky situation. Latham’s clever sweeps and aggressive stroke play remained in the foreground as New Zealand went forward while Kiwis fairly comfortably traversed past India’s spinners as the match went further and further out of India’s grasp.

Latham’s half-century was a masterclass in composure and timing on a turning pitch, guiding his mates through every scoring opportunity. Rotating the strike and occasionally using power unsettled the spinners, ensuring New Zealand could maintain a quick scoring rate. Even as Indian bowlers picked up a few wickets, the approach remained constructive and started piling on an unassailable lead for New Zealand.

India’s uphill battle to turn the tide
It is getting tougher for India to manage the situation. India has only once overturned a first-innings lead of over 100 to win a Test when New Zealand was not involved – the much-famed Kolkata Test of 2001, and a chase of 400+ runs in Port-of-Spain in 1976. Therefore, with New Zealand requiring a lead of over 300 runs, the Indian conditions do look pretty grim going forward, quite apart from the manner in which the pitch has started deteriorating by this stage.
The fact has rocked the hopes of over New Zealand for India, as they failed to ignite turmoil in the middle order of the New Zealand batsmen like what spin-over Santner did.

As if that wasn’t enough, as the pitch further wears out, it’s the end of the option for India, and the possibility of the last miracle looms larger.
The Historical Aftermaths of Victory for New Zealand
This New Zealand team’s victory in this series will be its maiden Test series win in India and India’s first home defeat in more than ten years. For this passionate team, which has shown all wonderful grit and adaptability under severe conditions-like pressure away games-this achievement would cement New Zealand’s position as a force in world cricket.
Mitchell Santner has been a turning point, coupled with great application from the New Zealand batsmen in handling spin. If they win this, it would mean much more than a rare feat-it would be a norm to watch out for by the emerging standards of New Zealand cricket on the world stage.

Conclusion
New Zealand’s fight in the Test to date has given them a historic opportunity to win a series in India. The way in which Santner took seven wickets and with Latham leading the batting line-up makes them big favorites as the match gains pace, and India remains on the back foot in trying to regain the initiative. Therefore, New Zealand stands at the threshold of history, and the series has been a truthful show of their resilience and skill, qualities in reshaping the dynamics of Test cricket.