Thu Oct 17 04:20:00 UTC 2024: ## India Stumbles in Bengaluru Test as New Zealand’s Pace Attack Shines
**Bengaluru:** India’s decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired spectacularly on the first day of the first Test against New Zealand at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Kiwi pace attack, led by Matt Henry, Tim Southee, and William O’Rourke, exploited the overcast conditions to reduce India to a paltry 34/6 at lunch.
The Indian batting lineup crumbled under pressure, with Rohit Sharma (2), Virat Kohli (0), and Sarfaraz Khan (0) all falling cheaply within the first 10 runs. While Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) managed to stem the tide for a while, Jaiswal’s dismissal for 13 brought an end to the brief respite. KL Rahul (0) and Ravindra Jadeja (0) then followed suit, leaving India in a precarious position.
New Zealand captain Tom Latham, anticipating the helpful conditions for the bowlers, opted to field first, emphasizing the importance of their pace attack and the presence of all-rounders capable of bowling spin.
The match, however, started with a delay due to rain on the first day, prompting the use of covers throughout the morning session. This unexpected interruption further complicated the pitch’s condition, making it favorable for pace bowling.
Despite the early setback, India will be hoping to recover and build a respectable total in the remaining sessions. The team’s performance will be crucial to their hopes of winning the series against New Zealand.
First Piper 