India vs New Zealand 2017, 2nd ODI: 5 things we learnt from the match 

Amidst all the pitch controversy in Pune, India recovered from the Mumbai defeat to put one over the Kiwis and level the series 1-1. Opting to bat first, New Zealand found themselves in strife as Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah ripped through the top order.

Tom Latham threatened to pull off another heist but Axar Patel cleaned him up to get India back in the game. Even though Henry Nicholls and Colin de Grandhomme hung around to pull the Kiwis back, Bhuvneshwar cleaned up Nicholls before Chahal picked up two in two to end New Zealand's innings.

India were hardly troubled in the chase as Dinesh Karthik and Shikhar Dhawan smashed half-centuries to take them home without a fuss. Here are five of the biggest takeaways from the game:

#5 Bumrah-Bhuvneshwar opening partnership is going places

Bhuvneshwar Kumar put New Zealand in trouble with early wickets

Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are rapidly becoming India's biggest weapons up front as the two have time and again created early breakthroughs. At Pune, the seamers were once again at it with Bhuvneshwar getting rid of Martin Guptill early courtesy a fabulous outswinger.

Bumrah joined the act by trapping Kane Williamson in front as the Kiwi skipper missed a flick shot off a back-of-a-length delivery that skidded in. A knuckle-ball, slower than usual, and delivered to perfection by Bhuvneshwar saw the back of the dangerous Munro as New Zealand were reduced to 27/3.

#4 Tom Latham's sweeping tactic brought to an end

Tom Latham once again threatened to play a game-changing knock

The difference between India and New Zealand in the first ODI was how the Kiwi middle-order batsmen, Ross Taylor and Tom Latham, employed the sweep shot to negate India's wrist spinners. India brought Axar Patel into the eleven and Kedar Jadhav into the attack, two bowlers who dart the ball in quick, to cut out this very shot.

While Taylor perished to a Hardik Pandya bouncer after relentless pressure from Jadhav at one end, Latham stayed put for a while, threatening to take the game away from India. But Axar Patel darted one into his legs from around the wicket. Latham went for his favoured sweep shot, but missed this time around, to hear the death knell.

#3 Henry Nicholls and Colin de Grandhomme entertain

Nicholls played some pleasing shots before being undone by Bhuvneshwar Kumar

There is a reason New Zealand sent an 'A' team to India a month before this series. Henry Nicholls, part of that 'A' team, earned some valuable experience from that tour. He was also with the High-Performance Unit, practising on dry wickets before this tour. It paid dividends as he looked quite comfortable against the spinners, plundering runs with utmost ease.

Colin de Grandhomme, on the other hand, is already familiar with these conditions having featured in the IPL, and unfurled some big hits to race to a run-a-ball 41. But, after Bhuvneshwar knocked Nicholls over, de Grandhomme lost his cool and miscued a wide delivery from Chahal to short third man.

#2 Dhawan plays the waiting game

Dhawan played a composed knock at the start

Fans are so used to seeing Shikhar Dhawan start off with a bang, and true to his style, the southpaw raced off to a fine start with a slew of boundaries. Even as Rohit Sharma perished to a heedless shot, Dhawan looked patient, mature and responsible.

While ensuring that Kohli was under no pressure to get the scoring rate up, Dhawan played the situation quite well, nudging the ones and twos while making the bad balls count. He eventually fell for 68 but not before giving India a sturdy platform.

#1 Dinesh Karthik puts to rest the No. 4 debate

Karthik took India to a comfortable victory

The No. 4 spot has been the subject of constant debate in recent times and Dinesh Karthik was the latest name thrown into the mix after Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya. Karthik was adamant to make this opportunity count and went about his business in a calm manner.

Tons of domestic runs finally seemed to be helping as Karthik hung around even as Kohli edged Colin de Grandhomme to the keeper. With Pandya and Dhoni for company, Karthik composed a fine half-century and put the No. 4 debate to a rest, at least for the near future.