SAHA COMING GOOD FOR INDIA
After the Test retirement of MS Dhoni, there was a lot of debate on who should replace the sensational wicket-keeper for India.
Names like Naman Ojha, Dinesh Karthik and Robin Uthappa were brought up but the gloves were always going to be Wriddhiman Saha’s, considering the Bengal keeper was part of the squad as back-up for Dhoni for a substantial period of time.
Although Saha’s glove-work was always top notch, his batting was often questioned. In fact, in his first 13 Tests, he had crossed the 50-run mark just twice and questions were raised about his place in the team.
A century at Gros Islet against the West Indies recently silenced some of the critics and on Saturday, he registered his first half-century on Indian soil.
Saha was unbeaten on 54 as he played a vital role in helping India past the 300-run mark.
GUPTILL’S POOR FORM CONTINUES
Without question, Martin Guptill is one of the best limited-overs batsmen in the world. But when he dons the whites for New Zealand, he is a completely different batsman.
With a Test average that now reads 28.95 from 46 Tests, there is a lot of pressure on the Kiwis think-tank to drop the explosive opening batsman. In fact, if Kane Williamson wasn’t ill, it was likely that Guptill might have been made to warm the bench at Kolkata.
Guptill’s dismissal was not something he will want to look back at. Attempting to leave a short delivery from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the 30-year-old’s elbow made connect with the ball. The ball deflected on to the stumps as Guptill had to make his way back to the pavilion for just 13.
Martin Guptill in the last six Test innings
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) October 1, 2016
7
8
0
21
0
13
49 runs Average 8.16#INDvNZ
BHUVNESHWAR BACK WITH A BANG
At the time of the toss on Friday, Indian captain Virat Kohli mentioned that the change to bring in Bhuvneshwar Kumar for Umesh Yadav, who played in the first Test, was due to the state of the pitch at Eden Gardens.
Kohli’s move paid off in style as Bhuvneshwar ran through the New Zealand batting line-up on Saturday.
The 26-year-old bowled a probing opening spell and he was rewarded with the scalps of Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls.
Later in the day, after a rain delay, Bhuvneshwar returned to pick up three more wickets as he registered the fourth five-wicket haul of his Test career.
The Meerut-born bowler ended the day with figures of 5/33.
WORRYING STAT FOR INDIA
India are in control of the second Test as New Zealand ended day two 188 runs behind with just three wickets in hand, but India’s inability to score big in home conditions must be bothering the team.
Before the ongoing Test, India had scored 400+ in the first innings in six of their last seven Tests at Eden Gardens. Interestingly, the only time they failed to reach that mark, they lost to England in 2012.
India are in command of the Test match, but will want improved performances from their batsmen going forward.
