India’s cricket team found themselves in deep trouble as they collapsed to 34-6 at lunch on day two of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat in difficult, overcast conditions, India struggled to withstand the impressive pace attack of New Zealand, led by William O’Rourke.
With three wickets, including that of Virat Kohli, O’Rourke spearheaded New Zealand’s dominance in the morning session.
As cricket fans worldwide followed the game, Jambobet, the best sports prediction site, favored New Zealand to take control of the match.
After the first day of the Test match was washed out due to rain, India took to the crease on day two, but their decision to bat first quickly backfired.
The tricky overcast conditions made it challenging for the Indian batsmen, and New Zealand’s pace bowlers took full advantage.
The first blow came in the seventh over when Indian captain Rohit Sharma was bowled by Tim Southee with the score on nine. Sharma, who managed just two runs, fell victim to a sharp inswinger that pierced through his defense, leaving India 9-1.
The wicket of Sharma set the tone for a devastating morning for India, as their top-order batsmen crumbled under pressure.
William O’Rourke made an immediate impact, dismissing star batsman Virat Kohli in his very first over. Kohli was caught at leg gully without adding to the score, and his dismissal left the home crowd stunned.
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Sarfaraz Khan’s Short Stay
Their hopes of stabilizing the innings were pinned on Sarfaraz Khan, who came in at No. 4, replacing Shubman Gill, who was out with neck stiffness.
However, Sarfaraz’s stay at the crease was brief. He faced just three balls before falling to a stunning one-handed catch by Devon Conway at wide mid-off. With Sarfaraz gone for a duck, India found themselves reeling at 10-3 inside the first 10 overs.
New Zealand’s Relentless Bowling Attack
Despite a brief rain interruption, New Zealand’s bowlers showed no mercy when play resumed. O’Rourke continued his fine form, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal for 13, with Ajaz Patel taking the catch.
KL Rahul’s poor run of form in Test cricket continued, as he was caught behind by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell for a duck off O’Rourke’s bowling. By the time lunch was taken, India had slumped to 34-6, with only Rishabh Pant, unbeaten on 15, offering any resistance.
Ravindra Jadeja was the fourth Indian batsman to be dismissed without scoring, looping a catch to point off the bowling of Matt Henry.
Henry’s disciplined line and length, combined with the accuracy of Southee and O’Rourke, ensured that India’s batting order never got a chance to settle. Jadeja’s dismissal added to the team’s woes, as they struggled to build any meaningful partnerships.
Missed Opportunity for New Zealand
Despite their dominant performance, New Zealand missed an opportunity to put further pressure on India when wicketkeeper Tom Blundell dropped a simple catch off Rishabh Pant when he was on seven.
Pant, known for his aggressive stroke play, had been India’s only real hope of pushing the score forward, and Blundell’s drop could prove costly if Pant manages to anchor India’s lower-order.
Nevertheless, New Zealand’s fast bowlers continued to dominate proceedings, with O’Rourke leading the charge. His ability to swing the ball both ways and target the stumps made him a constant threat to India’s top order.
The pitch conditions, combined with the overcast weather, provided perfect assistance for swing bowling, and New Zealand capitalized on the situation.
They made two changes to their lineup from the team that had completed a 2-0 series sweep against Bangladesh earlier in the month.
Sarfaraz Khan and left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav were brought in to replace Shubman Gill and seamer Akash Deep. However, the changes did little to strengthen India’s batting lineup, as New Zealand’s bowlers dominated from the start.
New Zealand, on the other hand, made a significant change in leadership, with Tom Latham stepping in as captain after Tim Southee stepped down following their 2-0 series defeat in Sri Lanka. Latham’s captaincy so far has been marked by smart bowling changes and field placements, putting immense pressure on India’s batsmen.
New Zealand’s Struggles in India
Historically, New Zealand has found it difficult to win Test matches in India, having only won two of their 36 previous Tests in the country. Their last victory on Indian soil came in 1988 in Mumbai.
However, their performance on the morning of day two suggests that New Zealand is well on track to challenge India in this first Test match.
The combination of Tim Southee’s experience, William O’Rourke’s impressive swing bowling, and Matt Henry’s control of line and length has put New Zealand in a commanding position. If they can continue this momentum after lunch, New Zealand could secure a significant advantage in the match.
