India lost for the first time after 12 years (India vs New Zealand) on its own soil in the Test series, which made it an embarrassment in front of huge fans. India faces its hardest time just eleven days into the series, as New Zealand, under the captaincy of Tom Latham, could spoil India on its own soil. This was the first time for India to be triumphed by the opponent in the eyes of huge fans, and it was a historic moment for New Zealand’s victory on Indian soil.
Current Match Situation(India vs New Zealand)
New Zealand’s Commanding Position
New Zealand gained momentum with a 301 run lead and five wickets in hand. It tightened its grip on the match which made the home side lose the match, With expressing performance from the captaincy, lathan with 86 runs along with Mitchell had made exceptional 7 wickets in a single match.
Pitch Conditions
What about the condition of pitch?.The pitch in Pune appears conducive for batting, with only occasional grip and turn, suggesting that batting may become easier as the match progresses. India, wounded and facing the threat to their proud home record, will seek to rectify their mistakes from the first innings.
Historical Context
India’s Unbeaten Streak
New Zealand broke the record over India, as India has never lost at home in the test series since the 2012-13 season played against england. India’s current status under threat after defeat at home. A big question mark was put on the fans about what will happen in the next series to the India team.Can India surprisingly come back in the next Test?
Key Players and Performances
Morne Morkel’s Optimism
India’s bowling coach expressed confidence in the team’s resilience. He emphasized that “strange things can happen” in cricket, and with a strong bowling performance expected in the morning session, India remains hopeful.
New Zealand’s Bowling Dominance
New Zealand’s spinners, particularly Santner and Glenn Phillips outperformed their Indian counterparts as they took all 10 wickets in the first innings. Their disciplined approach and adaptability to pitch conditions highlighted India’s batting vulnerabilities.
India’s Batting Struggles
Clustered Wickets
India faced a dismal batting performance, losing wickets in clusters and struggling to build partnerships. Washington Sundar provided a glimmer of hope, but the team’s overall performance raised concerns.
Ashwin and Jadeja haul a single wicket.
Indian spinner legends Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have struggled hard to manage and expect more wickets but only a single wicket each in the series. Their declining form raises questions about the team’s bowling strategy and future spin options.
New Zealand’s Resilience
Strategic Batting
New Zealand’s batsmen exhibited calculated aggression and resistance, expanding their lead significantly. Their ability to manage risks effectively contrasted with India’s faltering approach.
Santner and Phillips’ Partnership
The partnership between Santner and Phillips proved crucial in maintaining pressure on India’s bowlers. Their disciplined bowling forced India’s batsmen into risky shots, resulting in further wickets.
As the second Test is scheduled on Saturday, India has to gear up by any means to bring the glory back. As of now, New Zealand could secure their first Test series victory in India, while India faces a moment of shock. The match prediction between these two is beyond or unthinkable to predict. Let’s catch the match without missing on Saturday. Who will win?
Hello….I’m Tobar Nianglang, holding an MBA in Marketing with a focus on Digital Marketing. I’m also the founder and author behind sportskai.com, a prominent sports news platform.