The Indian cricket team found themselves in a precarious position in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, having already lost the first two matches. As the series shifted to the bustling city of Mumbai, the Indian side was presented with a golden opportunity to claim a measure of redemption. However, the opening day did not go as planned, leaving the team in a vulnerable state and questioning their strategies and approach.
Reflecting on the series, India’s all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja candidly admitted, “I was afraid of this. I had personally thought that as long as I played in India, I didn’t want to lose a single series. But this also happened. So, now I haven’t thought in my mind that I don’t want to do this [or that]. Whatever I think about, it happens suddenly.” This sentiment could well resonate not only with Jadeja but with the entire Indian top-order, who bear much of the responsibility for the performance woes. The first day in Mumbai provided a chance for redemption, only for it to unravel dramatically in the final moments of play.
India managed to build a promising 53-run partnership for the second wicket, with Yashasivi Jaiswal anchoring the innings before falling victim to a poorly executed reverse sweep just as the day was winding down. It’s been a disappointing series for Jaiswal, who has scored over 1000 Test runs this year, yet has struggled in this particular series. His highest score has been just 77 across five innings. This was the third time he was dismissed in the thirties, renewing questions about his shot selection and judgment. The timing of his dismissal opened the floodgates for a series of unfortunate events for India.
The decision to send in Mohammad Siraj as a nightwatchman was controversial from the start. Siraj faced a daunting task against New Zealand’s left-arm spinner, taking guard on a pitch that was already turning sharply. His innings was cut short on the first ball when he was trapped leg before wicket, and after consulting with his partner, Shubman Gill, he opted to review the decision unsuccessfully. Burning one of their precious reviews, the Indian team had little choice but to send in Virat Kohli, who was already padded up and prepared for the next phase of the innings.
Kohli, who is fiercely fighting to regain his lost form, had to deal with spin bowling from both ends. He skillfully defended the hat-trick ball and scored his first run from a full toss. However, trouble seemed to follow Kohli, who earlier in Pune found himself at the center of a run-out debacle involving his partner Rishabh Pant. It was Pant’s wicket that triggered a collapse, where India lost four wickets for just 40 runs.
. A similar fate awaited Kohli in Mumbai. A hurried call for a quick single led to his downfall as he found himself inches short of the crease, despite a desperate dive. His exit added to the team’s woes, with three wickets lost in a devastating span of just seven balls.
Earlier in the day, Ravindra Jadeja had been the linchpin of India’s recovery effort under sweltering conditions. Battling intense humidity, which threatened to disrupt the players’ grip and performance, Jadeja secured an important breakthrough against a resilient 87-run third-wicket stand. After his effort, a visibly exhausted Jadeja leaned on Kohli, visibly relieved by the small victory. “It was very challenging. There was a time when I couldn’t even hold the ball,” Jadeja explained, emphasizing the difficulties posed by the weather. “As a player, you know what’s going to happen in the match. So, mentally, I was ready that this was going to happen. I can’t give you an excuse as to why this is happening.”
Jadeja’s dismissal of New Zealand’s Will Young provided India the momentum to bowl out their opponents for a modest 235 runs. It was an encouraging development for the hosts, especially considering they lost the toss. Yet, at the end of the day, Jadeja found himself tasked with defending India’s frail top-order once more at the press conference. “Only an individual player can tell what’s going on in their mind. Obviously, it feels like if you’re down 2-0 in the series, that’s why you panicked and you made a mistake,” he reflected. “In a team game, if there’s a mistake at the top (top-order)… the batters who are coming in tomorrow, by adding 6 wickets, we will do as well as we can to score 230 or more runs. We will do as well as we can with the batting in the first innings so that it will be easy for us in the second innings.”
Unlike the prior Tests in Bengaluru or Pune, these errors were unforced and harder to rationalize. Despite the setbacks, India would hope for another opportunity to make amends in the second innings, relying once more on Jadeja and the lower order to spearhead an unlikely comeback.