Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah (PTI Photo)

PUNE: It is difficult to pin down what hurt India the most – Mitchell Santner’s best ever bowling performance or the team’s poor play with the bat. Or the decision to choose a spin-friendly track here after losing the first Test in Bengaluru. Then there was Tom Latham’s crucial knock of 86, and the visitors milked more than 60 runs through sweeps and reverse sweeps.
India, trailing 0-1 in the series, wanted to play at the forefront. They are now on the back foot.
Many things did not go well for India on the second day of the second Test against New Zealand at the Gahunje Stadium on Friday. As a result, their 18 home Test series winning streak is in serious danger of ending. India were all out for 156 in response to the Kiwis’ 259 in the first innings. Then Latham’s 86 (133b; 10x4s) helped New Zealand reach 198-5 through stumping. The visitors are now 301 points ahead and still have plenty of time.
Santner bettered Washington Sundar’s 7-59 clearance with his own 7-53. Like Washington, he was not part of the previous Test. Now both have recorded their best grades ever. Santner bowled over 19 overs unchanged in the morning session. The 32-year-old, playing his 29th Test in nine years, was rewarded for his maturity, change of pace and variety of length.

Santner was “shocked” after dismissing Virat Kohli with a full toss (1 off 9 balls). The former India captain was so angry with himself that after hitting the bat in the air, he hit the air again and disturbed the wickets.
Those who dreamed of India taking a lead of more than 200 on a deteriorating field had to undergo a reality check right then and there.
From 50-1 in the 22nd over to 95-6 in the 34th over, India’s collapse would have shocked the fans. This isn’t the first time they have collapsed in this series either – it happened in the first innings in Bengaluru and also in the latter part of the second innings in that Test.
India needed one batsman like Latham to show hunger and effectiveness to bat for longer on this pitch. But no one raised their hands. On the other hand, the Kiwis built partnerships.

If Kohli’s dismissal indicated that it wasn’t going to be India’s day, Rishabh Pant had other plans. He has been given a license to thrill and kill. But even the police must use their weapons responsibly. Pant (18) lived dangerously and did not bother to bide his time. He missed a hoick and was bowled by Glenn Phillips.
Meanwhile, Sarfaraz Khan (11) performed a catching exercise deep into the middle. He offered a difficult low catch to slide off Santner at first, but the fielder couldn’t pluck it. The first Test centurion had also attempted a slog sweep, with the only problem being that the bat did not touch the ball.
The fall of other Indian batsmen was not due to rash shots. But the efforts of Shubman Gill (30), Ravindra Jadeja (38) and Washington (18*) left a lot to be desired. Washington didn’t even try to engineer the strike with No. 11 Jasprit Bumrah. The Tamil Nadu left-hander hit a four on the last ball of the previous over.
India did not take advantage of the difficult opportunities (Pant and Gill) when it was their turn to make amends in the field. Santner spoke with empathy about India’s efforts. “A few referee calls and a few difficult chances didn’t go our way,” he said. But India were lucky to catch Rachin Ravindra (9) early despite the stage being set for him at 89-2. The left-hander misread the sense of a Washington delivery and was bowled.