Fri Oct 18 10:01:18 UTC 2024: ## India Stumbles in First Innings, Fights Back in Second Test Against New Zealand
**Bengaluru, India:** The first Test match between India and New Zealand took a dramatic turn on day three at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. India, reeling from a disastrous first innings where they were bowled out for a paltry 46 runs, showed signs of resilience in their second innings.
After a shaky start, Rohit Sharma (52) led the charge, hitting a half-century, and the team looked set to recover until a crucial wicket fell. Ajaz Patel, the Kiwi bowler who had earlier dismissed Sharma, struck again, removing Virat Kohli for a meagre 6 runs. India ended the day at 95/2 after 22 overs.
Earlier, New Zealand had declared their first innings at 402, thanks to a brilliant century by Rachin Ravindra (134) and a solid half-century from Tim Southee (65). Devon Conway (91) also contributed significantly to the score. Indian bowlers Ravindra Jadeja (3/72) and Kuldeep Yadav (3/99) tried to contain the New Zealand surge but couldn’t prevent a massive first innings lead of 356 runs.
India’s dismal first innings performance was largely attributed to the impressive bowling of Matt Henry (5/15) and William O’Rourke (4/22). The Indian team had previously recorded their lowest ever Test score of 36 runs against Australia in Perth, making this the first time they have been dismissed for such a low score on home soil.
With a significant deficit to overcome, India will need a strong performance in the remaining days to avoid a crushing defeat. The fate of the test now hangs in the balance as the match enters its crucial stages.
First Piper 