Twitter reactions: Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar tear apart New Zealand before the Indian batters go into self-destruct mode on Day 1 of 3rd Test

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Day 1 of the 3rd Test between India and New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium witnessed New Zealand establishing a significant first-innings advantage, concluding their innings at 235 all out. This performance showcased their resilience despite a rocky start. In response, India struggled under pressure, finishing the day at 86/4, leaving them trailing by 149 runs.

New Zealand’s batting: A mixed bag of resilience and frustration

New Zealand’s innings began on shaky ground, losing Devon Conway for just 4 runs, bowled by Akash Deep. Captain Tom Latham followed soon after, contributing 28 runs before falling to Washington Sundar. However, Will Young and Daryl Mitchell steadied the innings, forming a resilient partnership that looked to put New Zealand in a strong position. Young’s patient 71 off 138 balls laid the groundwork, while Mitchell’s aggressive 82 off 129 provided much-needed momentum. Their contributions helped New Zealand reach a total of 235 runs, although they struggled against the spin of the Indian bowlers as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar: Spin kings at work

Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar were instrumental in dismantling New Zealand’s batting lineup. Jadeja’s exceptional spell saw him claim five wickets for 65 runs, showcasing his ability to extract turn and bounce from the pitch. His wickets included key batter like Young and Tom Blundell, as he consistently applied pressure and forced errors. Sundar, too, was impressive, taking four wickets and helping to break crucial partnerships. Together, they exploited the conditions beautifully, ensuring that New Zealand could not settle and ultimately restricting them to 235 runs.

Also WATCH: Ravindra Jadeja’s five-wicket masterclass destroys New Zealand on Day 1 of the 3rd Test

India’s response: Promising start dashed by quick wickets

In response, India began their innings with hope and ambition, looking to go past New Zealand’s modest first innings total. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma opened the batting, but India faced a tumultuous period early on. After a bright start, scoring 25 runs, Rohit was dismissed for 18, caught by Latham off Matt Henry’s bowling. Soon after, Jaiswal fell for 30, leaving India at a precarious 78 for 2. The situation worsened when Mohammed Siraj fell for a duck just moments later, leaving India reeling at 78 for 3. Virat Kohli’s run-out added to the turmoil, reducing India to 86 for 4 at the end of the day, with Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant at the crease, desperately trying to stabilize the innings.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Also WATCH: Akash Deep traps Devon Conway LBW with a sharp inswinger in 3rd IND vs NZ Test

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