In Bengaluru, the second morning of the first Test between India and New Zealand turned into a nightmare for the home side, as the visitors’ fast bowlers wreaked havoc in conditions tailor-made for seam and swing bowling. After rain had marred the first day, it was the New Zealand seamers who seized control of the proceedings on the second day. Led by the formidable duo of William O’Rourke and Matt Henry, New Zealand dismantled the Indian batting lineup, reducing them to a precarious 34/6 by lunch.
The day’s play began with a surprising decision from Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who won the toss and opted to bat first under challenging overhead conditions on a surface still retaining moisture from the overnight rain. This decision quickly turned problematic as New Zealand’s bowlers, renowned for their ability to exploit seam-friendly conditions, put India on the back foot right from the first ball.
Henry, with his incisive seam movement, set the tone alongside veteran pacer Tim Southee. The New Zealand opening bowlers immediately put India’s openers under pressure, probing accurate lines that left the batsmen unsure and tentative. The first thirty minutes of the session witnessed several close shaves, with numerous deliveries narrowly missing the bat edges. The disciplined bowling yielded rewards when Southee orchestrated the first breakthrough. A beautiful nip-backer from him deceived Rohit, who, in an attempt to impose himself on the bowler, mistimed his defensive shot, seeing the stumps rattled. This dismissal of the Indian captain triggered the collapse that followed.
The introduction of William O’Rourke into the attack only intensified India’s woes. Still basking in the acclaim from his impressive tour of Sri Lanka, O’Rourke exhibited blistering pace and movement. In his very first over, he prised out the prized wicket of Virat Kohli, who failed to handle a nasty delivery that reared up and resulted in a soft dismissal to Glenn Phillips at leg gully. This catch was a testament to Phillips’ agility, who showcased his reflexes by taking a brilliant low catch.
The misery continued for India as Devon Conway executed a spectacular one-handed catch at mid-off to send Sarfaraz Khan packing for a duck.
. With the hosts tottering at 10/3, the hopes of a competitive total appeared bleak.
Rishabh Pant, known for his aggressive style, was sent out at No. 5, ahead of the traditional stalwart KL Rahul, possibly to take on the New Zealand bowlers with a counter-attacking approach. Pant, known for his attacking flair and unconventional strokes, including an attempted reverse sweep, kept the scoreboard ticking, albeit dangerously. He should have been dismissed when he edged a delivery that was dropped by Tom Blundell, giving India a rare reprieve in the innings.
As if the daunting task against New Zealand’s relentless bowling wasn’t enough, the heavens opened once again, pausing the play temporarily. However, the interruption seemed to refresh the pitch conditions further, amplifying the menace of the New Zealand seamers.
The post-rain play resumed with the same intensity, and Ajaz Patel’s sharp fielding saw the end of Jaiswal’s resolute stand just before lunch, adding salt to India’s wounds. Shortly after, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja followed suit, both succumbing to poor shot selections. Rahul fell prey to a cunning leg-side trap set by O’Rourke, while Jadeja’s careless flick resulted in a leading edge, gratefully accepted by Patel.
The Indian team found themselves in an unfamiliar and troubling scenario, having lost four out of their top seven batsmen for ducks in a home Test – a record showing of helplessness. With only a glimmer of hope resting on Pant and the lower order to somehow claw towards a respectable total, the session was clearly dominated by the visitors. New Zealand, having decimated India’s lineup under favorable bowling conditions, proved that Rohit Sharma’s decision at the toss might have heavily backfired. The tourists, brimming with confidence, seemed poised to control the remainder of the Test with another inspired performance.
Brief scores were India at 34/6 with Rishabh Pant unbeaten on 15, while New Zealand’s William O’Rourke and Matt Henry had impressive bowling figures of 3-13 and 2-12, respectively, reflecting an outstanding morning for the visitors.