India’s top order endured a nightmare start on Day 2 of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, as three key batsmen – Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Sarfaraz Khan – fell cheaply to New Zealand’s disciplined pace attack. Opting to bat first, India quickly found themselves in trouble, with the trio back in the pavilion for a combined total of just two runs.
The first blow came early when skipper Rohit Sharma was clean-bowled for just 2 by Tim Southee, followed shortly by the dismissal of star batsman Virat Kohli for a duck, lasting only nine balls. Sarfaraz Khan, too, succumbed without scoring, as Matt Henry and William O’Rourke dismantled the Indian batting lineup in a devastating opening spell.
Virat Kohli Nine-Ball Duck: Rare Failure
Virat Kohli’s dismissal for a nine-ball duck sent shockwaves through the crowd at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Facing William O’Rourke, Virat Kohli found himself trapped by a ball that rose sharply from just short of a length. Trying to defend, the ball caught the top of his glove and was expertly caught by Glenn Phillips at leg gully.
The umpires briefly checked to ensure the catch was clean, but there was no doubt as Kohli was sent back to the dressing room for a scoreless innings.
This marks Kohli’s second duck against New Zealand in recent times, with the last one occurring at Wankhede Stadium during the previous tour. His record at the number three position in Tests has been underwhelming, with an average of just 16.16 in seven innings, raising questions about his form at this spot.
Rohit Sharma bowled for 2
India’s woes started with the departure of Rohit Sharma, who struggled against the moving ball. Tim Southee, who had the ball on a string, managed to deceive Rohit with a delivery that angled in and nipped back off the pitch.
Rohit Sharma, stepping out to play an expansive drive, missed the ball completely as it crashed into the leg-stump, leaving India reeling at 2 for 1.
Sarfaraz Khan departs for duck as Matt Henry shines
Matt Henry then added to India’s misery by removing Sarfaraz Khan for a duck, thanks to a brilliant catch by Devon Conway at extra cover.
Attempting an aggressive shot, Sarfaraz was caught out of position, mistiming the ball, which lobbed off the bottom edge. Conway’s stunning dive to his right ensured that India lost their third wicket with just nine runs on the board.
India’s Top Order Under Pressure
India’s top order collapse exposed vulnerabilities against New Zealand’s pace attack in favourable conditions. Rohit’s early dismissal set the tone, while Kohli’s rare failure added to the pressure. Sarfaraz, relatively new to international cricket, also struggled to handle the Kiwi pacers. As India ended the first hour of play in a perilous situation, they will need their middle order to stabilise the innings and claw back into the match.
New Zealand’s disciplined bowling and sharp fielding have given them the upper hand in this crucial first Test, and India faces an uphill battle to recover from this early collapse.
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