As the much-anticipated Test series between India and New Zealand commenced in Bengaluru, unpredictable weather, followed by an enthralling spell from the Kiwi bowlers, shaped an unexpected narrative. The first day was marred by heavy rains, causing disruptions and setting a sluggish tone for this initial Test encounter. However, as skies cleared on the second morning, it was New Zealand’s fast bowlers who seized the spotlight, orchestrating an unforgettable performance against the Indian batting lineup.
Against conventional expectations, the Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, opted to bat first under deceptive overhead conditions and on a damp surface—a decision that soon tilted in favor of the visitors. Armed with conditions that proved bowler-friendly, New Zealand’s pace duo, William O’Rourke and Matt Henry, set the stage for a dramatic, if not chaotic, contest.
Opening the attack alongside the experienced Tim Southee, Matt Henry immediately signaled trouble for the Indian batsmen. In the opening 30 minutes, India’s top order faced a barrage of precision seam movements and swinging deliveries that kept the batters guessing and often mishitting or missing the play entirely. Not long after, set up by a tight line-and-length assault, an inside edge from Rohit off a nipping delivery from Southee shattered his stumps, leaving India on shaky grounds.
William O’Rourke, having already impressed during New Zealand’s recent tour of Sri Lanka, exploited the conditions to perhaps even greater effect. His first over into the attack saw a delivery that jagged back viciously, unsettling the seasoned Virat Kohli whose attempted defensive shot instead ballooned to Glenn Phillips, who took a stunning catch at leg gully. Kohli’s departure for zero intensified the angst around India as they stood precariously at 10/2.
The morning went from bleak to dire for the hosts as Devon Conway’s sensational one-handed effort at mid-off accounted for Sarfaraz Khan, leaving India further beleaguered at 10/3. In a strategic shake-up, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant then came to India’s rescue at the number five spot, perhaps as a ploy to counter the consistent line and length New Zealand maintained.
Displaying glimpses of aggression, Pant defiantly attempted to take the attack to New Zealand’s bowlers.
. Despite this, an opportunity eventually presented itself when he tried a reverse sweep, only to then be reprieved by New Zealand’s wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, who fluffed the chance.
As if scripted for dramatic twists, rain interrupted once more, albeit briefly; the brief delay, however, only invigorated the already lively surface, making batting a precarious task upon resumption. Continuing their relentless pursuit, New Zealand capitalized with some magical fielding efforts. Notably, Ajaz Patel’s acumen in fielding was on display as Jaiswal’s resolve at the crease succumbed to lunch approaching.
The resumption post-lunch signaled further calamity for the Indian side. Both KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja departed without troubling the scorers as New Zealand continued their relentless onslaught. O’Rourke, engineering another demise via a leg-side trap, sucked Rahul into a fatal leg-side strangle. Meanwhile, Jadeja’s ill-timed flick resulted in Patel catching a lofty leading edge.
Staring at an unprecedented slump, India ended the session reduced to a mere 34/6, having lost four of their top seven batsmen for ducks. The disastrous session painted a demoralizing tableau for the home side, suggesting that the tossed coin had ultimately spun in New Zealand’s favor. To recover, India’s hopes rest heavily on how their sole resilient figure, Pant, navigates the challenge with the lower-order batsmen.
By the time of reporting, India’s portrayal in the Test is one of a battered unit, under duress from New Zealand’s incisive bowling artillery. As the match progresses, the crucial question remains whether the hosts can salvage a credible first innings total or be ensnared by the energizing efforts of O’Rourke and Henry, whose combined figures of 5-25 perhaps form the spine of an early narrative in this Test series.