Indian batting horror show puts New Zealand in winning position on day 2 of 1st test

 

After a total washout of day 1 , the much awaited India vs New Zealand 1st test started at Bangaluru on day 2 . Batting first India put on a shocking display in swinging and damp conditions getting bowled out for a paltry 46 . New Zealand took full advantage of India's early debacle with a solid batting display to reach 180/3 at close . 

Due to rain, the pitch remained covered for three days, naturally leaving it damp. The sky is also cloudy. Anyone with basic cricket knowledge would say that in such conditions, winning the toss and choosing to bowl first is the obvious decision. However, India’s captain Rohit Sharma did the opposite. He won the toss and chose to bat. As a result, India suffered an embarrassing collapse on home soil, bowled out for just 46 runs, something unprecedented in India's 92-year Test history at home. At the end of the day, New Zealand was 180/3, leading by 134 runs.

New Zealand's lineup includes pace bowlers like Tim Southee, Matt Henry, and William O’Rourke, two of whom have troubled Indian batsmen in the past. The same scenario unfolded on Thursday. Even though the match wasn’t at Lord’s, Manchester, or Auckland, the overcast sky and movement in the air led to India’s collapse like a house of cards, even on home ground.

India’s innings lasted only 31.2 overs, with every over bowled by New Zealand's pace bowlers. They didn’t even need to bring on a spinner. The Indian batting lineup crumbled under the pressure, as the advantage that could have been taken by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj if India had bowled first was instead seized by Southee and Henry. 

Was it just the toss that India lost? Not entirely. Batting first in such conditions demands courage and a stubborn determination to stay at the crease, qualities that were missing in the Indian batsmen. Otherwise, why would Rohit, struggling to score, try to charge at Southee in the seventh over? This isn’t T20 cricket, where failure to attack early puts pressure on later batsmen.

Throughout the innings, India suffered due to poor shot selection. The Kiwi bowlers may have bowled well, but the Indian batsmen gifted their wickets with reckless shots. Rohit and his team should have realized they weren’t facing Bangladesh; they were up against some of the world’s best bowlers. The question arises: did overconfidence lead to this humiliation? 

Questions may also arise about when Virat Kohli will regain his form in Tests. The former Indian captain seems to be going through another “bad patch,” reminiscent of the period from late 2019 to 2023 that troubled him. On this day , Kohli (0)  had a lifting delivery take his glove for a great catch at backward short leg. Even if Kohli struggled, where were the other batsmen to step up? With Shubman Gill missing, Sarfaraz Khan was brought in at No. 4, but he was out after facing just three balls and playing a rash shot being caught brilliantly by Conway . Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant also showed impatience and threw away their wickets. Jaiswal (13) caught at gully trying to cut and Pant (20) edging behind . Five Indian batsmen were dismissed without scoring in including Rahul who was caught down leg side . Credit must be given to New Zealand, who held on to some excellent catches and made the most of half-chances.

India also had some bad luck. Rain interrupted the innings midway, making conditions even more challenging. Throughout India’s innings, the sky remained overcast with strong winds. However, when New Zealand began their innings, the sun came out, and the pitch became much easier to bat on. The Kiwi batsmen took full advantage.

From the start, Devon Conway and Tom Latham played aggressively. By the 13th over, they had surpassed India’s score without losing a wicket. While New Zealand fielders were taking sharp catches, India’s fielding was abysmal. In the 13th over, Latham edged a shot off Siraj, but KL Rahul  allowed the ball to pass through second slip without attempting the catch.

New Zealand’s first wicket fell in the 18th over when Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Latham. But Conway continued to look in fine form. Thanks to his IPL experience, Conway is familiar with Indian pitches and played his favorite shots at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Even after Will Young’s dismissal for 33, New Zealand remained untroubled.

Conway dominated the Indian bowlers for as long as he was at the crease. His aggressive approach cost him a century, as he was bowled by Ashwin while attempting a predetermined shot from around the wicket. However, no more damage was done to New Zealand as Rachin Ravindra (22) and Daryl Mitchell (14) safely saw out the day.

Given the situation, India will need a miracle to save this Test match. Alternatively, two of the remaining three days would need to be washed out by rain. On the third day, New Zealand’s lead is likely to increase further, and it remains to be seen how India’s batsmen respond to this humiliation in the second innings.