India Needs 359 Runs to Avoid First Home Series Loss in 12-Years Against New Zealand

India faces a challenging target of 359 runs to avoid a rare home series defeat as New Zealand wrapped up their second innings at 255 runs on Day 3 of the second Test in Pune. The visitors, aiming for their first-ever Test series win in India, put up a strong resistance despite losing quick wickets.

New Zealand's captain, Tom Latham, led the way on Day 2 with a composed 86 off 133 balls. Although New Zealand stumbled on Day 3, losing five wickets rapidly, they managed to add 57 runs to their overnight total of 198/5. Glenn Phillips was crucial in this effort, remaining unbeaten with 48 runs.

India's bowlers displayed notable performances, especially Washington Sundar, who claimed four wickets in the second innings after an impressive seven-wicket haul in the first. Ravindra Jadeja supported with three wickets, while Ravichandran Ashwin took two.

Earlier, New Zealand had bowled out India for a mere 156 in their first innings, securing a 103-run lead. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner spearheaded India's collapse, taking seven wickets on Day 2, while Glenn Phillips added two more to his tally. For India, Ravindra Jadeja top-scored with 38 runs, followed by Shubman Gill and Yashaswi Jaiswal, who contributed 30 runs each.

India's batting struggles echo their performance in the first Test in Bengaluru, where they were bowled out for just 46, ultimately losing that match by eight wickets. On Day 1 in Pune, Washington Sundar made headlines with his remarkable spell, taking seven wickets and restricting New Zealand to 259 runs. His efforts answered critics who questioned his place in the lineup over Kuldeep Yadav, as he delivered career-best figures in just his fifth Test.

The Tamil Nadu all-rounder marked his return to India’s XI after three and a half years, with his last Test being in Ahmedabad against England in March 2021. New Zealand's innings saw contributions from Devon Conway (76) and Rachin Ravindra (65), helping the visitors post a challenging total after opting to bat first.

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