On Virat Kohli Getting Bowled On A Full Toss, New Zealand's Mitchell Santner Gives 'Shock' Reaction

Having spun the second Test and, perhaps, the series in New Zealand's favour with his career-best 7/53, Mitchell Santner admitted it was ‘shocking' to clean up Virat Kohli on a full toss in Pune on Friday. Santner's seven-for handed New Zealand a handy 103-run lead in the first innings on a low, slow surface, which the Kiwis stretched to 301 by end of play. The left-arm spinner's outstanding spell included the scalp of Kohli as India collapsed to 156 all out in the first innings.

"I was in more of a shock getting Kohli out off the full toss. He doesn't usually miss those," Santner replied when asked how much he enjoyed getting India's premier batter out in the manner he did.

“It was slightly slower through the air. I just tried to change it up a little bit, but usually if you bowl those, they go for six. There was obviously a little bit there which was nice and the change of pace was key today,” he told the media.

Santner said despite having a huge 301-run lead, New Zealand batters still have a job to do with three days left in the Test.

“I think India will probably come out more aggressive and try to put us on the back foot. There's still a job to do with the bat. Obviously, the more runs we get now, it makes our job with the ball a little easier,” he said.

Santner said mixing up the pace, like India off-spinner Washington Sundar did on Day one during his 7/59, was the key.

“I tend to do that a lot in white ball cricket — change the pace. We spoke about (keeping it) just under 90kmph (and for) an hour kind of (it) looked like it's spinning and then for a period there, when you went over the top, it was actually bouncing a lot,” he said.

“We spoke about maybe going a little bit slower but at the start, I was kind of fast