India vs New Zealand: More harrowingly, and a wider concern in the lead-up to the Australia series, their technique against the moving ball got a rude reality check. (BCCI)
It was one of the most forgettable first-day first-session moments for India at home.
Every tactic seemed to backfire — the decision to bat first under clouds after relentless downpour in the last two days, the ploy to slot Virat Kohli at No. 3, when you had an experienced opener in home-boy KL Rahul; though both retreated for ducks.
More harrowingly, and a wider concern in the lead-up to the Australia series, their technique against the moving ball got a rude reality check. So much so that the day seemed sketched in Wellington or Christchurch, as India went for lunch at 34/6.
FOLLOW LIVE IND VS NZ 1ST TEST DAY 2
It began with a Matt Henry corker in the fourth over, after New Zealand struggled to locate lengths. The shining red ball seared in, then hooped away off the seam, beat the poky bat of Rohit Sharma and hit the back pad. The perfect ball, except that umpire Michael Gough doubted it. But Henry instantly reviewed. It met all the parameters but the height, which the DRS verdicted umpire’s call. Henry looked gutted, even as Rohit gasped a sigh of relief.
But his fortuitous stay was short-lived. Shortly, he decided to counterpunch his way through trouble. He charged out of the crease, two steps rather than a full-throttle sashay, and tried to drive Tim Southee down the ground. But Southee’s trademark wobble seamer emphatically beat him and struck the stumps. New Zealand, hitherto, wasteful of the new ball, revved into life.
Conway’s leap of faith 🤯☝️#TeamIndia lose their 3rd wicket early on in Bengaluru! #INDvNZ #IDFCFirstBankTestTrophy #JioCinemaSports pic.twitter.com/gM3dSzIgKn
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) October 17, 2024
In the snap of the fingers, India were 10 for 3.
A clever plan and two blinders shocked the audience, pleasantly surprised by the sight of Virat Kohli strolling in at No. 3.
A Willam O’Rourkee ball speared in from the back of a length at an uncomfortable height. It cannoned off Kohli’s gloves and plunged towards leg-gully Glenn Philips, who dived forwards to claw the ball just before it landed.
Next in, Sarfraz looked to deliver a few blows, but the bat slipped in his hands when he tried to thump Henry down the ground. He too would have escaped but for Devon Conway’s one-handed stunner.
Rain arrived fleetingly for India’s relief. Upon resumption, the surface seemed less arduous to bat. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant lingered, riding luck, but Jaiswal’s exit, when he drove airily to point, precipitated a collapse. India lost Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja too before the session ended, not owing to any devil on the pitch but their indiscretion. Rahul stabbed at a leg-side bound ball and was caught down the leg. Jadeja tried to whip a ball that slanted across him and got the leading edge.
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