India suffered a catastrophic batting failure in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, resulting in their lowest score of 46 at home. Captain Rohit Sharma, visibly affected by the defeat, took full responsibility for his decision to bat first after winning the toss, admitting he had misjudged the pitch conditions. The aftermath of the match sparked a blame game within the Indian camp, leaving fans and analysts alike pondering the ramifications of the shocking defeat.
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Baffling tossing decision
Rohit Sharma’s decision to bat first raised eyebrows, especially given the previous rainfall and the wet conditions of the pitch. “You see and try to judge. Sometimes you make the right decision, sometimes you don’t, and this time I was on the other side,” Sharma said in the post-match meeting, revealing his Frustrated.
The choice to field three spinners – Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav – while leaving pacer Akash Deep aside, initially seemed strategic. However, the reality is cruel. The pitch favored the fast bowlers and India found themselves at 6 for 36 at lunch.
The cost of misjudgment
Sharma’s rationale for selecting three spinners was based on the exposed look of the pitch and he expects the situation for the spinners to stabilize as the match progresses. “We figured it would do whatever it had to do for the first few sessions, and then as the game went on it would take turns,” he explained. However, that was not the case and this led to a disastrous batting performance from the Indian team.
The team’s collective failure to adapt to the situation has raised concerns about the progress of its strategy. The inability to properly gauge the pitches not only resulted in an all-time low but also put huge pressure on the batting line-up for the remainder of the Tests.
Great show from New Zealand
New Zealand’s bowlers, on the other hand, took advantage of the conditions and displayed relentless pressure on the Indian batsmen. Matt Henry’s performance was particularly effective as he took three wickets and contributed significantly to India’s early collapse. His performance highlighted the depth of New Zealand’s bowling attack and their ability to exploit weaknesses in the Indian batting order.
New Zealand finished in dominance with a lead of 134 runs and 7 wickets to their name. This early advantage shifted the momentum firmly in their favour, leaving the Indian camp scrambling to recover from a dire situation.
Kohli’s strange position
Another talking point is Virat Kohli’s batting position at number three, which he has not occupied since 2016. It was a calculated risk, but it backfired and he fell after just 12 balls. Rohit defended the decision, stressing the importance of experienced players taking responsibility. “Experienced players have to take on extra responsibilities,” he said. However, with Kohli’s dismal performance at the position, the pressure is mounting on the veteran.