As the clouds cleared over Bengaluru on the second day of the first Test match, an eager crowd braced for what was anticipated to be a fascinating contest between bat and ball. Unfortunately for the home side, the narrative soon tilted heavily in favor of the visiting New Zealand team, whose fast bowlers laid waste to India’s top order, leaving them in disarray. The conditions were ripe for a pace assault, with a damp surface retaining moisture from the previous day’s downpour, and New Zealand’s seamers capitalized on every bit of assistance it offered.
Winning the toss, Indian captain Rohit Sharma made the bold choice to bat first, a decision that quickly proved misguided. New Zealand’s pacers, led by an imperious William O’Rourke and a relentless Matt Henry, seized the opportunity with voracity and flair, pulling the rug from under India’s feet right from the outset. O’Rourke, making waves after an outstanding tour of Sri Lanka, was the embodiment of precision and aggression, reminiscent of vintage fast bowling artistry.
The match’s tone was set by Matt Henry, who, alongside the experienced Tim Southee, stifled India’s opening pair, Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal. For 30 challenging minutes, the duo was pinned down, struggling to navigate New Zealand’s surgical line and length, which yielded numerous close calls. Eventually, the deadlock broke when Southee, with a delivery reminiscent of a spinner’s dream, clipped Rohit’s inside edge, shattering the stumps and temperament of India’s skipper who retreated to the pavilion in frustration.
William O’Rourke then escalated New Zealand’s dominance with his very first over. Generating daunting pace, he produced a wicked delivery that reared viciously, leaving the cricketing maestro Virat Kohli startled and fendless. Kohli’s attempted defense only resulted in a sharp catch at leg gully by Glenn Phillips, whose brilliance and athleticism were on par with O’Rourke’s prowess. The setback for India went from disconcerting to alarming as Devon Conway showcased an acrobat’s balance to dismiss debutant Sarfaraz Khan, who exited for a naught, India tottering at a precarious 10/3.
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Seeking an antidote to the relentless Kiwi juggernaut, Rishabh Pant was promoted to number five, hinting at a counter-attacking strategy. His unorthodox approach injected temporary defiance into India’s innings, utilizing audacious strokes such as the reverse sweep against the grain of traditional Test cricket. Despite a dropped catch by New Zealand wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, the situation remained bleak for India as rain intervened, further exacerbating the track’s unpredictable nature upon resumption.
The short rain delay seemed to reignite New Zealand’s hunger. Ajaz Patel contributed with an exceptional piece of fielding to dismiss Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had managed to resist until lunch beckoned. India’s implosion continued unabated with KL Rahul falling to a misjudged flick, ensnared by a strategically placed leg trap into O’Rourke’s plan and hands. Complemented by smart catching, India lost Jadeja meekly through a lazy uppercut, falling to Patel’s intuitive hands at backward point, plunging to a staggering 34/6.
The disastrous morning session saw India scraping for stability even as four out of their top seven batsmen registered ducks—a first in their home Test history. The decision to bat first under such conditions seemed to have backfired spectacularly, handing New Zealand, who had the zest and skill to exploit the morning’s residual conditions, an early ascendancy in the series. Now, the onus lay squarely on Rishabh Pant to steer the sinking ship with lower-order resilience to avoid a humiliating low score.
India’s fans can only hope for a measured partnership from Pant and the tailenders to muster a respectable total, but the visitors’ spirits soared, emboldened by creating history against one of cricket’s formidable battalions.
/Brief scores: India 34/6 (Rishabh Pant 15*; William O’Rourke 3-13, Matt Henry 2-12) vs New Zealand.