After a rain-soaked Day 1, the much-anticipated first Test match between India and New Zealand finally kicked off at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The opening day was completely washed out due to persistent rain, leaving fans eager for action as they looked forward to Day 2. Team India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to bat first under overcast conditions, setting the stage for an exciting contest.
Tim Southee gets Rohit Sharma cheaply early on
As play commenced, the New Zealand pace attack, led by Tim Southee and Matt Henry, quickly made their presence felt. The duo exploited the swinging conditions effectively, putting pressure on the Indian openers, Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rohit, who had been under scrutiny following a lackluster performance in recent matches, attempted to assert himself but fell victim to Southee’s skillful bowling. In an effort to drive the ball down the ground, Rohit misjudged a delivery that nipped back sharply, resulting in his stumps being shattered—leaving India at a precarious position early in their innings.
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Here’s the video:
Well Southee gets it done not Henry but electric all the same. Started at off stump and ends up hitting top of leg stump. pic.twitter.com/d17jUCt8mE
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) October 17, 2024
Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan fail to impress with the stick
The situation worsened for India as they lost two more wickets without adding any runs to their total. Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan both departed for ducks, further deepening the team’s woes. Kohli’s struggles continued as he faced a challenging spell from the New Zealand bowlers, who were relentless in their pursuit of wickets. With India reeling at three wickets down for zero runs, the pressure mounted on the middle order to stabilize the innings.
Weather woes continue in Chinnaswamy
As Day 2 approached, concerns about the weather loomed large. Forecasts indicated that rain could once again disrupt play, with predictions of consistent cloud cover and precipitation throughout the day. The elite drainage system at Chinnaswamy Stadium is designed to handle such conditions efficiently; however, the likelihood of further interruptions remained high.
Both teams recognized the significance of this Test series not only for individual performances but also for their standings in the World Test Championship (WTC). India aimed to solidify their position at the top of the table while New Zealand sought redemption after a series of disappointing results. With key players missing from both sides—Kane Williamson for New Zealand and Shubman Gill for India—the match promised to be a test of resilience and skill.