In a commanding display of skill and precision, New Zealand took control of the second day of the first Test against India in Bengaluru. Devon Conway’s resilient innings of 91, supported by an exceptional bowling performance led by Matt Henry and William O’Rourke, propelled the visitors into a dominant position, leaving India on the back foot in front of their home crowd.
The day began with high expectations for India, as captain Rohit Sharma decided to bat first, hoping to establish a solid foundation. However, the decision quickly proved detrimental as New Zealand’s pacers thrived under favorable conditions. The atmosphere in Bengaluru presented a damp surface and overcast skies, ideal for New Zealand’s seamers to wreak havoc on the Indian batting lineup.
Despite a frustrating initial 30 minutes for New Zealand, during which they consistently beat the bat but failed to take a wicket, the breakthrough eventually came. Tim Southee set the tone by dismissing Rohit Sharma with a superb delivery that nipped back sharply. This opened the floodgates as India faced a ruthless onslaught from O’Rourke and Henry.
Fresh from an impressive outing in Sri Lanka, O’Rourke seized the moment, exploiting the conditions to dismiss key Indian batsmen, including Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan, both without scoring. Kohli, batting at number three, was undone by a vicious lifter he gloved to leg slip, while Sarfaraz fell to a poorly executed shot, superbly caught one-handed by Conway at mid-off.
New Zealand’s exceptional fielding performance complemented their outstanding seam bowling, as catches were held with pinpoint accuracy. India’s batting woes continued as KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin all succumbed to the relentless pressure, registering ducks amidst the moving ball. Despite a brief reprieve for Rishabh Pant, who was dropped once, Henry and O’Rourke ensured that India’s lower order resistance, typically strong at home, never materialized.
India’s first innings total of 46 marked their lowest score by any team in Asia, highlighting the extent of their struggles. New Zealand’s bowlers expertly exploited the conditions to dismantle India’s lineup. With a formidable platform established by the bowlers, attention turned to New Zealand’s batting.
Devon Conway emerged as the central figure, anchoring the innings with his patient half-century.
. Though not always fluent, Conway’s adaptability shone through, especially against India’s premier pacer, Jasprit Bumrah. While Tom Latham appeared more compact and composed, it was Conway who openly attacked the spinners, particularly Ravichandran Ashwin, accelerating the scoring rate.
As the day progressed, batting conditions eased somewhat, though New Zealand’s quicks continued to extract some assistance from the pitch. Encouragingly for India, their spinners began extracting turn, offering a glimmer of hope. Yet, the hosts faced immense pressure due to their earlier batting debacle, which hampered the bowlers’ ability to assert complete control. Even Bumrah appeared uncharacteristically off-color during key moments.
After a disciplined display from India’s spin department, each picking up a wicket, Kuldeep Yadav managed to break the promising 67-run opening stand by trapping Tom Latham LBW following a successful review. Will Young then dug in with an assertive mindset, building a crucial 75-run partnership to thrust New Zealand further into the lead.
However, just as New Zealand seemed poised for a dominant position, Ashwin and Jadeja struck late in the day. Jadeja induced a top-edge from Young’s slog sweep, while Ashwin claimed the prized wicket of Conway off the first ball of his fresh spell, injecting energy back into the Indian camp. Nevertheless, Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell fortified New Zealand’s position by forming an unbroken partnership, staving off further damage before stumps.
Ravindra continued his confident form from the Sri Lanka series, expertly negotiating India’s spinners with assured footwork and precise shot selection. Coupled with Mitchell’s composure, they ensured the scoring rate remained healthy, enhancing the advantage accrued by Conway’s earlier aggressive knock. With a lead of 134 runs, New Zealand aimed to amass at least another 100, expecting difficult batting conditions in the fourth innings at this venue.
As day three looms large, the first two sessions could prove decisive, weather permitting. With forecasts looking uncertain, there’s an ample window for intriguing passages of play to unfold, keeping the match finely poised and full of possibilities.