On a day that put the Indian cricket team through a grueling test, contrasting fortunes were clearly etched under the skies over the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. With bright and sunny conditions favoring the visiting New Zealand side and gloomy clouds hovering over India, the Teams’ performances mirrored their environments. New Zealand delivered a masterclass in seam bowling, dismissing India for their lowest-ever Test total at home, leaving cricket pundits and fans alike in a state of disbelief.
Cricket grounds in India have often been bastions of spin superiority, but this rare occurrence of such seamer-friendly conditions allowed the New Zealand team to exploit the occasion to their advantage, becoming one of the few teams ever to dominate India on their home turf so thoroughly. The New Zealand pace trio, led by Matt Henry along with Tim Southee and Will O’Rourke, left the Indian batting order in shambles, reducing them to a paltry total of 46.
From the onset, the pitch conditions foreshadowed a day of challenges for the batsmen. Having been under covers for almost two days due to persistent rains, the surface had maintained a dampness that assisted seam movement. However, India miscalculated their approach, opting for a spin-heavy attack amidst conditions screaming for pace, and chose to bat first after winning the toss, adding to their self-imposed woes.
From the first ball, things began going awry. Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal attempted varied techniques to cope with the seam and swing – Sharma and Virat Kohli took strides down the pitch, whereas Jaiswal adhered to a more traditional approach. Meanwhile, a flamboyant Rishabh Pant played his characteristic game. Unfortunately, none of these strategies bore fruit as wickets fell like a deck of cards.
Tim Southee set the tone, moving the ball in sharply, while Will O’Rourke capitalized on the bounce and Matt Henry executed a meticulous off-stump line. By the time India slumped to 10/3, a familiar sense of resurrection loomed; memories of miraculous turnarounds from similar situations came to captain Rohit Sharma’s mind, notably their recent comebacks in Chennai and Kanpur. Instead, the game continued slipping further akin to their infamous performance in Adelaide, where they bundled out for 36.
The dismay on the Indian side thickened during fielding.
. The pitch not only aided the visitors’ bowlers but seemed to mock their plans at every turn. Fielding mishaps added to their exasperation. The first catch opportunity saw KL Rahul react late, confused by a flashing edge, while subsequent run-out chances were squandered and stumping opportunities missed. The climax of misfortune came when Rishabh Pant had to exit the field due to a knee injury, adding injury to insult.
In stark contrast, New Zealand caught nearly every chance India presented. Their superior strategies and preparations bore fruit consistently throughout the day’s play. Interestingly, New Zealand skipper Tom Latham revealed at the toss that they too had intended to bat first, underscoring the up-side-down nature of the day’s proceedings. Yet their adaptability and precise execution made the difference. Matt Henry, with a five-wicket haul, found joy in the sideways movement and bouncy conditions, reminiscent of his home comforts in New Zealand. Despite a sporadic Test career, Henry demonstrated vital prowess in conditions tailor-made for his bowling style, bringing to life the potential that had long been constrained due to his fewer Test appearances.
Reflecting on the day’s collapse, Rohit Sharma candidly admitted to the rare misjudgment at the toss. He explained that the decision to include spinner Kuldeep Yadav reflected their errant expectation of a flatter pitch. He stated, “Obviously, I did not read the pitch well enough and we sit in that situation today,” as the responsibility for the shaky start weighed heavily on him.
As shadows lengthened over the Chinnaswamy Stadium, New Zealand’s position strengthened, and India looked towards recalibrating their approach for the rest of the series. While not all is lost, the events have undoubtedly cast a cloud over their World Test Championship ambitions. The visitors have set the bar high, and for India, a rapid turnaround is required to snatch back control in this unanticipated theatre of pace-dominated cricket on home soil.