Team India experienced a grim day in Test cricket, bowled out for just 46 runs on Day 2 of the opening Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. Following a rain-affected first day, Indian captain Rohit Sharma opted to bat first—a decision that backfired dramatically, resulting in one of the team’s worst batting collapses on home soil.
In the absence of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli came in at No. 3, while Sarfaraz Khan was promoted to No. 4. Unfortunately, both failed to contribute, leaving only Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) and Rishabh Pant (20) to reach double figures. New Zealand’s Matt Henry (5/15) and William ORourke (4/22) tore through the Indian batting lineup.
During the post-match press conference, Rohit admitted to misreading the pitch conditions. India fielded only two spinners, while New Zealand opted not to introduce any during India’s first innings.
“We felt there wasn’t much grass on the pitch and thought it would behave normally for the first couple of sessions before turning as the game progressed. Historically, the first session in India is critical, after which spinners come into play. The decision to bring Kuldeep was based on his success on flat pitches. We expected the pitch to be flatter than it was. Clearly, it was a misjudgment on my part; I didn’t read the pitch well enough, and here we are,” Rohit explained.
The Indian captain emphasized that the batting lineup had a tough day, making it challenging to execute their plans. “You can say that. Getting all out for 46 was disappointing. There was assistance for the seamers, and we needed to adjust our game plans accordingly. We have succeeded on similar wickets before, and every batter had a plan. But sometimes, execution fails. We had a bad day, but we’ve been part of such matches. It’s a challenge, and you have to challenge yourself,” Rohit added.
