India retained their position at the top of the World Test Championship standings, but their points percentage (PCT) took a hit. Now, to qualify for their third consecutive WTC Final without relying on external results, India must win four of their remaining six matches.
| Photo Credit: K BHAGYA PRAKSH

India retained their position at the top of the World Test Championship standings, but their points percentage (PCT) took a hit following their 113-run defeat in the second Test against New Zealand on Saturday (October 26, 2024).

India crashed to their first-ever Tests series defeat at home in 12 years as New Zealand handed the hosts a humiliating 113-run loss in the second Test in Pune to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

It was India’s fourth loss in the current WTC cycle, causing their PCT to drop from 68.06 to 62.82. As a result, Rohit Sharma and his men are now just 0.32 ahead of Australia (62.50), who occupy the second spot.

After the third Test against New Zealand next week, India will fly Down Under to play the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which has gained more significance now.

India had won 18 consecutive series before this one, and were heavy favourites to win all the matches in their pursuit of a final spot in the WTC.

But, now, to qualify for their third consecutive WTC Final without relying on external results, India must win four of their remaining six matches.

Set a daunting target of 359 in the fourth innings, India lost wickets at regular intervals to meekly surrender the match and the series to New Zealand.

“I am hurting because we lost the game. Can’t think about what lies ahead and can it affect our chances. We didn’t play well enough, we lost the series and that is hurting. There are things we need to do as a unit,” India skipper Rohit Sharma said at the post-match press conference when asked about the WTC scenario.

India’s loss has opened up the race for the WTC Final, giving the likes of Sri Lanka, South Africa, and New Zealand besides Australia, a strong opportunity to qualify for the WTC25 Final next year.

The historic win against India has elevated the Black Caps, who now have a PCT of 50, to the fourth spot and back into the reckoning for a finals spot.

Sri Lanka, who have a PCT of 55.56, occupy the third spot while Pakistan’s nine-wicket victory against England in the third Test in Rawalpindi has helped them climb to seventh place with 33.33 PCT. England, who have 40.79 PCT, are sixth.

New Zealand’s captain Tom Latham congratulates Mitchell Santner after an Indian wicket during the second Test in Pune on October 26, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

He was reappointed as Test captain after two years following the team’s series loss in Sri Lanka. But Tom Latham, the New Zealand captain, was “immensely” proud of the historic feat his team achieved on Saturday (October 26, 2024), assuring his team its first Test series win in India.

“Coming off the back of a Sri Lankan series where we obviously didn’t get the results that we wanted, to come here and play the style of cricket that we have played, we are immensely proud to be in the position of winning two Test matches here,” an elated Latham said.

“A lot of New Zealand teams have come here over the past 69 years, I think it is, and 13 series. To be the first team to win a series over here is immensely special. (I am) very proud of this group.”

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New Zealand Mitchell Santner celebrates with his teammates after taking a wicket against India in Pune on October 25, 2024.
| Photo Credit: K. Bhagya Prakash

The batters’ constant failure in making runs in the first innings is costing the team dear, admitted bowling coach Morne Morkel even as India are in danger of losing the first Test series at home since 2012-13.

After getting bundled out for an abysmal 46 in the first innings of the opening Test, India were skittled out for a mere 156 in the first essay of second Test here on Friday as New Zealand took firm control of the match.

India vs New Zealand 2nd Test Day 2 Highlights

“I never like to have a punch up between batters and bowlers but, in Test match cricket you need to score the first innings runs,” Morkel told the media during the post-day press meet.

“If we put our hand up, we haven’t been able to do that. There are world class players in our batting line up. I know that individually, they’ve got their processes and they know how to go about those things,” he added.

Morkel hoped to see a better outing from Indian batters in the second innings.

“Hopefully, we can iron those mistakes out because it’s costing us at the moment — not getting the runs on the board — but I’m pretty sure there’s enough experience, enough knowledge amongst them to rectify that,” he added.

“I back the team (to come up) with a strong response in our second innings. I’m excited to see how they bounce back and how they play this situation and the conditions,” he said.

Morkel said India will have to maintain belief and back their knowledge of the conditions to avert losing the match and the series.

“We have to believe. This game is a funny game. Our guys are attacking players, there’s guys that know these conditions well. Our talk before this game was that we are masters in these conditions, we know how to sum these conditions up,” he said.

“Let’s be honest, it’s going to be a tough task. But what an opportunity for somebody to really inspire and put in a fighting and a top performance — that’s the way I see it.

“When conditions are tricky and tough you’ll see real people stand up and fight and if we show that fight and somebody gets the momentum going in these conditions, you never know,” he said.

Morkel said the hosts wanted to see off the overs on Day One when they reached 16/1 in 11 overs and then find momentum on Day Two.

“I think they (New Zealand) bowled very well in partnership. Watching from the outside, it was very hard for us to rotate strike, to keep the scoreboard ticking,” he said.

“In these sort of conditions where the ball is turning and asking a lot of questions, it is important to do that.

“The pace that (Mitchell) Santner bowled today in particular, was spot on for this surface. On Day Two, arriving here this morning being one down, our camp was very confident that we were going to bat big but unfortunately we just couldn’t get that momentum going,” he added.

Morkel praised New Zealand for coming to this tour well-prepared.

“I must give credit to New Zealand. The way they’ve adapted to conditions, the way they’ve sort of blocked out what is in front of them and just played the game, it’s been incredible so far in this series,” he said.

“Definitely in Bangalore and here, playing those sessions, playing those important moments they’ve done it better than us at the moment.” “And that’s one of the reasons why they’re on top of this game at the moment. They’re creating pressure with the ball. They’re putting our bowlers under pressure by sweeping and reverse-sweeping well.

“They’re a team that plans well, they go into tours and really leave no stone unturned so I’m not surprised by the way they’re playing at the moment,” he added.

All-rounder Washington Sundar justified his selection with a career-best 7 for 59 to help India bowl out New Zealand for 259, but the hosts lost skipper Rohit Sharma early in their first innings when stumps were drawn on day 1 of the second Test, in Pune on Thursday (October 24, 2024).

India crawled to 16 for one in 11 overs with Yashasvi Jaiswal (6 not out) and Shubman Gill (10 not out) at the crease, trailing by another 243 runs in the first innings.

Fans watch the India-New Zealand second Test in Pune on October 24, 2024. MCA secretary Kamlesh Pisal has apologised to spectators who faced extreme inconvenience due to shortage of drinking water on a hot and humid day at the Maharashtra Cricket Association’s stadium. Photo: X/@MahaCricket

Maharashtra Cricket Association secretary Kamlesh Pisal has apologised to spectators who faced extreme inconvenience due to shortage of drinking water on a hot and humid day at the Maharashtra Cricket Association’s stadium on Thursday (October 24, 2024), the first day of India’s second Test against New Zealand.

“I sincerely apologise to all the fans for the inconvenience caused today, especially due to water shortage. We have already addressed it and I assure you that from tomorrow until the end of the game, free drinking water will be supplied in every stand without any problem.” Pisal said.

On Day One, around lunch time, free water kiosks in all the stands — most of which are without a shade — ran out of water. While the North Stand situation was the messiest as it took almost three hours to regularise, south, east and west stands’ saw infrequent water supply for 45 minutes up to an hour.

The North Stand spectators — sitting under a blazing sun — ran out of patience and tried to breach the barricades in search of water. It even led to a fracas after unknown vendors sold half litre bottles for exorbitant price. A group of fans resorted to loud vocal protests, dragging select office-bearers’ by their name.

“The MCA has not authorised anyone to sell water, so we are getting to the bottom of the issue. And the supply at two or three points in the North Stand was interrupted since the MCA tried to serve chilled water to spectators considering the October heat,” Pisal said.

Pisal, along with MCA apex council members and chief operating officer Ajinkya Joshi, has directed the event management agency and water supply vendor to double the number of water supply kiosks from Day Two.