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

The second Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Thursday, October 24, saw Washington Sundar spin a web around New Zealand to take seven wickets, making his first appearance in the Test arena since March 2021 an unforgettable experience.

The team management wanted another off-spinner to counter the abundance of left-handed batsmen in the New Zealand team, so they draughted the spin-bowling all-rounder into the squad following the first Test in Bengaluru. Some experts questioned India captain Rohit Sharma’s decision to replace Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI with Sundar at the toss, believing the left-arm wrist spinner would have been more useful on Pune’s spin-friendly black soil surface. But with his amazing ball performance, Sundar has captured everyone’s hearts.

The remaining New Zealand batters were duped by Sundar’s unrelenting accuracy and cunning, but Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed the first three. By focussing on the stumps and taking advantage of the conditions, the Tamil Nadu all-rounder made the batters play as many deliveries as they could. After taking the crucial wicket of the highly effective Rachin Ravindra to start his account, he didn’t turn around.

He got rid of Daryl Mitchell LBW and bowled out five batters. Only when Glenn Phillips holed out to long-off did Sundar require assistance from a teammate to take a wicket. The Kiwis couldn’t handle the turn and bounce that Sundar received from the wicket, so he challenged both of the batters’ edges.

Since August 2022, the 25-year-old has not claimed five wickets in First-Class cricket. He bowled 23.1 overs and took seven wickets for 59 runs, which is also one of his best red-ball cricketing numbers. As India bowled out New Zealand for 259 thanks to his thrilling final spell,

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they made a significant comeback in the match. The tourists had already reached 197/3 thanks to half-centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway.

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