Santner credits Sri Lanka legend for wonder spell in Pune
Mitchell Santner made a career-best spell of 7/53 to turn the game on its head in Pune and put New Zealand on the cusp of a major achievement.
New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner credited the change in bowling speeds that he employed as key to his success in Pune.
The left-arm spinner, who made a return to the Test XI after Matt Henry's injury, made a profound impact with the ball, finishing with dream figures of 7/53 as India were bundled out for 156.
“Rangana {Herath] has been really good," Santner said after the day's play. "Obviously in Sri Lanka and here, he took wickets all over the place. I think he was a master of that change in pace and that guile.
"And I think the change of pace was key today. At the start, I was kind of fast into it and then it kind of changed as the day went on. Washington Sundar did that as well, he did that very well. First it was 95 kph and then he started to slow it up and get the variations (going) and get the batters guessing."
Watch Mitchell Santner impress in CWC23
Every Mitch Santner wicket during the CWC
Santner's early understanding of the pace to bowl at on the wicket proved to be a key point of difference on a track where batters, barring a few, have struggled so far.
A big wicket was that of Virat Kohli, who was again undone by the lack of pace from the Black Caps spinner.
"I think I was in more of a shock getting Kohli out off the full toss," Santner said, adding that Kohli "doesn't usually miss those".
"I think it was, 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. So, I think there was obviously a little bit there [of Herath's influence] which was nice."
The decisive first-innings lead was compounded in the second innings as New Zealand countered India's spinners impressively.
With the lead swelling to over 300, New Zealand are in sight of a very rare series win in India. The last of those by a visiting team in India came way back in 2012, when England got the better of them.
In the other camp, bowling coach Morne Morkel backed India to chase down whatever target New Zealand sets for them.
“I back the team (to make) a strong response in our second innings.," Morkel said in the post-day press conference. "I’m excited to see how they bounce back and how they play this situation and the conditions.
“We have to believe. This game is a funny game. Our guys are attacking players, there’s guys that know these conditions well. Our talk before this game was that we are masters in these conditions, we know how to sum these conditions up."
The odds are stacked against India, though, with New Zealand having sufficient batting depth to further pile on an already intimidating lead.