Virat Kohli faced a disappointing dismissal in the second Test against New Zealand at MCA Stadium in Pune, as he fell to Mitchell Santner for just one run. Attempting a sweep on a full toss, Kohli missed the ball, which crashed into his stumps, leaving India struggling at 56-3 in response to New Zealand's first innings total of 259. The pitch has been particularly favorable to spinners, and the Kiwi bowlers have capitalized on the conditions.

Starting the day at 16-1, India’s opening duo of Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal played cautiously, advancing the score to 50 before Gill was trapped LBW by Santner. There were high expectations for Kohli, who had impressed with a brilliant 70 in the second innings of the first Test, but his dismissal for a single run left him visibly frustrated as he made his way back to the dressing room.

Currently, India trails New Zealand by 198 runs, a daunting target considering the challenging conditions. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is well settled at the crease, alongside Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant—who had stellar performances in Bengaluru with scores of 150 and 99 respectively—will now bear the responsibility of stabilizing the innings.

India must secure a win in this second Test to avoid a series defeat, particularly as they chase crucial points in the World Test Championship (WTC). The loss in the first Test has significantly impacted India’s chances of reaching the WTC final, making victories in both Tests against New Zealand essential. Additionally, they will need to secure two wins in Australia and aim for at least two draws to maintain a path to the final. If India fails to win the second Test or if it ends in a draw—which seems unlikely—they could find themselves in a precarious position.