NEW DELHI: The first India vs New Zealand Test in Bengaluru kicked off on a dramatic note as the hosts got off to a troubled start — losing skipper Rohit Sharma, star Virat Kohli and a returning Sarfaraz Khan cheaply in the first hour of the morning session on Day 2.
After the entire opening day of the first Test was washed out due to rain, India won the toss and surprisingly opted to bat in overcast conditions against a potent Kiwi pace attack.
And the decision quickly backfired for India as Rohit was knocked over for just two runs in the seventh over after a watchful start. As Rohit looked to go over the top, he missed an incoming delivery from Tim Southee with the ball crashing into his stumps.
Soon after Rohit’s departure, India suffered the Kohli blow as the star batter perished for a nine-ball duck.
In the absence of an injured Shubman Gill, Kohli came at No.3 slot but his stay in the middle was short-lived as he was caught by Glenn Phillips at leg gully off William ORourke.
Interestingly, Kohli’s last duck in a Test match also came up against the Kiwis on their last tour where he walked back without scoring at the Wankhede in Mumbai.
India’s next jolt came in the very next over as a returning Sarfaraz played a poor shot and was caught Devon Conway at extra-cover off Matt Henry. As Sarfaraz looked to force a shot through the off side off a length ball off Henry, he got the bottom edge and the ball lobbed up. Conway then dived to his right to pull off a stunning catch.
With Conway’s sharp take, Sarfaraz departed for a three-ball duck.
With Sarfaraz’s dismissal, India found themselves reeling at 10 for 3 in the 10th over on the second day.
It was the first time since the 2010 Ahmedabad Test against New Zealand, India had lost 3-plus wickets for 10 runs or below at home.
A couple of overs later rain returned as play stopped with India’s score reading 13 for 3 in 12.4 overs
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