The first day of the much-anticipated final Test match in Mumbai saw a dramatic turn of events as New Zealand managed to seize the advantage by claiming crucial late wickets. As stumps loomed, India found themselves losing three wickets for a mere eight runs, a shift that swung the day in favor of the visitors. At the start of the evening session, India appeared comfortable and in control, courtesy of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill who had taken the score to 78/1. Jaiswal, with a composed 30, and Gill, unbeaten on 31 at the time, had negotiated the New Zealand bowling attack with apparent ease and composure.
However, fortunes can change rapidly in cricket, and it was an audacious reverse sweep from Jaiswal that provided left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel with his first breakthrough. His audacious shot led to his dismissal, sparking a collapse that saw India lose their grip on the proceedings within a span of mere minutes. Mohammed Siraj, who came in as the nightwatchman, failed to fulfill his task, falling leg-before-wicket to Ajaz Patel. To add salt to the wound, Siraj opted to review the decision, which proved futile, leaving India without a review when they possibly needed it most.
Further disaster struck just before the close of play, this time with India’s stalwart, Virat Kohli. Attempting a risky single through a drive to mid-on, Kohli underestimated Matt Henry’s fielding precision. A direct hit at the bowler’s end, even with a dive from Kohli, saw him short of his ground. The dismissal was a testament to Henry’s prowess and further showcased Kohli’s rare lapse in judgement. The turn of events capped a productive day for New Zealand, despite having only a modest total on the board after opting to bat first in testing conditions.
The pitch at the Wankhede Stadium was acting true to its reputation, beginning the day with some lively bounce and movement for seamers, and gradually offering significant assistance to spinners as the day wore on. New Zealand’s innings was anchored by pivotal contributions from Daryl Mitchell and Will Young, who crafted crucial innings of 82 and 71 respectively.
. Their partnership, valued at 87 runs, came at an essential time, providing stability after early blows by India’s Washington Sundar in the morning session.
Sundar turned in an impressive performance earlier in the day, finishing with figures of 4-81. He was instrumental in dismantling the New Zealand top order, claiming the scalps of Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra in quick succession. However, it was Ravindra Jadeja’s wizardry with the ball that stood out throughout the innings. His skillful bowling yielded remarkable figures of 5-65 and played a decisive role in restricting the touring side. Jadeja’s efforts were rewarded as he moved past stalwarts Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma in the rankings to become one of the top five Test wicket-takers for India.
Mitchell and Young were enterprising against the Indian spinners, using deft footwork and calculated use of the crease to counter Jadeja and Sundar’s threat. Despite their valiant efforts, the remainder of New Zealand’s lineup could not withstand the relentless Indian spin attack, collapsing, losing their last seven wickets for just 76 runs.
In pursuit of New Zealand’s total, India’s innings got off to a rocky start with opener Rohit Sharma dismissed cheaply by Matt Henry. Yet, it was Jaiswal and Gill who brought the innings into stability with a promising partnership, hinting at a dominant Indian reply. However, Jaiswal’s departure through a loose shot sparked a chain reaction, undermining India’s solid footing and propelling New Zealand firmly into the driving seat.
The stage is now set for an intriguing Day Two. With conditions likely to further deteriorate, batting will become increasingly challenging. For India, posting a strong first-innings total is imperative to bolster their chances in this match, especially considering the daunting prospect of a fourth-innings chase. As New Zealand returns to the field tomorrow, their morale buoyed by today’s final session successes, all eyes will be on how the drama unfolds.