New Zealand has once again left India reeling after their historic victory in the Bengaluru Test, their first on Indian soil in 36 years. Despite a strong second innings by India, New Zealand comfortably won by 8 wickets, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The Indian team struggled in key moments, leading to the defeat. Let’s break down the critical mistakes that cost India the match.
1. Collapse in the First Innings – All Out for 46 Runs
India’s biggest mistake in the match came early when they collapsed for just 46 runs in their first innings after winning the toss and electing to bat. This is India’s lowest score in any Test match played at home. Five Indian batsmen failed to score any runs, which left India in a difficult position right from the start. The batting failure created a mountain too high to climb for India in the rest of the match.
2. Unable to Break Key Partnerships in New Zealand’s First Innings
New Zealand capitalized on India’s poor first innings, putting up a massive total of 402 runs. One of the turning points came when Rachin Ravindra (134) and Devon Conway (65) built a crucial 8th-wicket partnership after New Zealand was struggling at 233 for 7. If India’s bowlers had broken this partnership earlier, New Zealand may not have secured a 356-run lead. This partnership proved to be the deciding factor, as it gave New Zealand a significant edge.
3. Middle-Order Collapse in India’s Second Innings
In the second innings, India showed signs of recovery, thanks to Sarfaraz Khan’s brilliant 150 and Rishabh Pant’s 99. However, once both of them were dismissed, India’s middle-order crumbled, losing the last seven wickets for just 56 runs. KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin failed to contribute with the bat when it was most needed. If they had managed to add more runs, India could have set a challenging target for New Zealand.
4. Lack of Pressure on New Zealand’s Chase
On the final day, India needed early breakthroughs to put pressure on New Zealand. Jasprit Bumrah gave India hope with two quick wickets, reducing New Zealand to 35 for 2. However, India missed the presence of a third fast bowler, and the decision to play Kuldeep Yadav as the third spinner backfired. Kuldeep leaked 26 runs in just three overs, allowing New Zealand to settle into their chase. Will Young (48*) and Rachin Ravindra (39*) played cautiously, and their unbeaten 75-run partnership sealed the victory for New Zealand.
Key Players Who Struggled
Several Indian players failed to make an impact in the match. KL Rahul, who could only score 12 runs across both innings, was a major disappointment. Ravindra Jadeja, while taking three wickets in the first innings, struggled with the bat and couldn’t take any wickets in the second innings. Ravichandran Ashwin, known for his all-round skills, also had a poor outing, contributing just 15 runs and taking one wicket in the entire match.
India will have to bounce back quickly as the second Test begins on October 24 in Pune. To level the series, India will need to avoid these critical mistakes and bring their A-game to the field.
