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In a thrilling finish, New Zealand resisted Jasprit Bumrah’s lethal bowling and denied India’s comeback attempt on the final day of the first Test, securing an eight-wicket victory. This win marked New Zealand’s first Test triumph on Indian soil in 36 years, with their last victory dating back to 1988 under the captaincy of John Wright.
Chasing a modest target of 107 runs, New Zealand faced early setbacks but quickly regained control. Will Young (48*) and Rachin Ravindra (39*) put together a solid unbeaten 75-run partnership for the third wicket, steering their team to a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Despite being bowled out for just 46 in the first innings, India’s fightback was commendable. They will now look ahead to the second Test, starting on October 24 in Pune, where they aim to bounce back and level the series. India’s team selection for the next match could see some changes, with opener Shubman Gill likely to return from injury and Sarfaraz Khan, who scored 150 in the second innings, potentially retaining his place.
India will also need to decide whether to stick with three spinners or opt for more pacers, especially since the decision to go with three spinners didn’t pay off at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were the most effective bowlers, while the third spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, conceded 26 runs in just three overs.
Bumrah’s Early Strikes
The final day began late due to a wet outfield, with play starting at 10:15 AM. Bumrah was sharp with the new ball, claiming two quick wickets. Tom Latham was the first to fall, trapped leg-before for a duck. He reviewed the decision, but the DRS confirmed his dismissal.
India might have missed the presence of a third fast bowler, as Bumrah and Siraj were getting assistance from the pitch. Kuldeep, brought in as the third spinner, couldn’t make much of an impact.
Bumrah struck again, dismissing Devon Conway for 17. Conway looked uncomfortable against Bumrah’s pace and was eventually trapped LBW, leaving New Zealand at 35 for 2.
New Zealand’s Resilience
After the early blows, Young and Ravindra steadied the ship. Once the clouds cleared, batting became easier, and they capitalized on loose deliveries. Ravindra, who had scored a century in the first innings, even hit a six off Kuldeep.
The partnership ensured that New Zealand chased down the target without further drama, securing a memorable win on Indian soil.
Rohit’s Reflection
Indian captain Rohit Sharma expressed confidence that his team could bounce back, just as they did earlier this year when they won four consecutive matches after losing the opener against England.
In the post-match presentation, Rohit said, “These kinds of matches happen. We will move on from this. After losing one game to England, we went on to win four. We know what each player needs to do.”
Rohit acknowledged that he misread the conditions but was surprised by India’s collapse for 46 in the first innings. He remarked, “I mentioned in the press conference that we expected some difficulty in the early overs, but we never imagined being bowled out for 46. New Zealand bowled well, and we couldn’t cope.”
Rohit also praised the efforts of Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant in the second innings, where India showed more resistance. “We batted well in the second innings. When you are 350 runs behind, there’s not much you can do. We had some good partnerships. We could have been bowled out cheaply, but that didn’t happen. Sarfaraz and Rishabh played fantastic innings, and Sarfaraz’s maturity was commendable.”
India’s Next Steps
With the second Test around the corner, India will look to iron out their flaws. The return of Shubman Gill will boost the top order, while Sarfaraz Khan’s brilliant second-innings performance has made him hard to overlook.
The team will also need to reassess their bowling strategy, especially regarding whether to include more fast bowlers on Indian pitches. In Pune, India will need a strong all-round performance to stay alive in the series.
