"He also dismissed Virat Kohli on the last ball" - Parthiv Patel says Glenn Phillips could trouble India on Day 2 of IND vs NZ 2024 2nd Test
Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel reckons Glenn Phillips could trouble India on Day 2 of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. He pointed out that the off-spinner had dismissed a well-set Virat Kohli on the last ball of Day 3 of the first Test in Bengaluru.
India bundled New Zealand out for 259 in their first innings on Thursday, October 24. Rohit Sharma and Co. were at 16/1 in their first innings at Stumps, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill at the crease.
During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Parthiv Patel highlighted India's issues against off-spin and opined that Glenn Phillips could pose a threat on Day 2.
"Traditionally off-spinners have troubled India on turning wickets. Whether it is Nathan Lyon or Moeen Ali, whichever off-spinner has come has troubled India. Of course, the left-arm spinners will trouble but Glenn Phillips is a bowler who could trouble," he said.
"He also dismissed Virat Kohli on the last ball. We have seen quite often that the incoming balls get the inside edge, especially for the right-handed batters. So it's not that only the left-arm spinners will be the threat, the sort of pitch it is, you will have to think and play the off-spinner as to how the ball is going," Patel added.
Phillips wasn't introduced into the attack in the 11 overs New Zealand bowled on Day 1. The spin-bowling all-rounder registered figures of 1/69 in India's second innings of the Bengaluru Test, getting Kohli to edge a ball to Tom Blundell behind the wickets on the final delivery of the third day.
"It has gone in India's favor to a great extent" - Parthiv Patel on Day 1 of the Pune Test
![Washington Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin starred for India with the ball on Day 1. [P/C: BCCI]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/6317a-17297850991727-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same discussion, Parthiv Patel opined that Day 1 of the second Test was largely in India's favor.
"It has gone in India's favor to a great extent. When you lose the toss and bowl first, you think you should get to bat in the evening. Although a wicket has fallen for sure, that is your thought process and India were successful in that as well as they got New Zealand all out for 259. New Zealand started well, the way they played the new ball," he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator praised Ravichandran Ashwin for providing the initial breakthroughs and Washington Sundar for proving his selection right with a seven-wicket haul.
"However, as soon as Ravichandran Ashwin came, he started picking up wickets. We were thinking that if New Zealand scored 350-375, India would be on the back foot. However, Washington Sundar came, everyone had questioned his selection, as to how correct it was to play him ahead of Kuldeep, but when you take seven wickets, you get the answer that the selection was right," Parthiv Patel added.
Sundar registered figures of 7/59 in 23.1 overs. Ashwin (3/64 in 24 overs) was the only other bowler among the wickets for the hosts.