Spin Showdown in Mumbai: New Zealand All Out for 235, India Stumbles as Rohit & Kohli Fall on Day 1!
Mumbai, Wankhede Stadium: On the first day of the third Test in Mumbai, India and New Zealand fought it out with spin, as both units lost their grip on the match at a point on this trying day. New Zealand, batting first, was bowled out for 235 runs. India ended the day at 86/4, equally troubled.
New Zealand's Innings: Mitchell and Young Stand Tall
New Zealand first tried to get a good total by winning the toss and choosing to bat first. The team's hope was somewhat dashed early when Akashdeep Singh got Devon Conway LBW for just 4 runs. Tom Latham and Will Young did well in trying to stabilize the innings with a 44-run partnership. However, it was Washington Sundar who made the crucial breakthrough in the form of Latham, leaving New Zealand at 59/2.
Rachin Ravindra came in quickly after him, bowled by Sundar for a moderate 5. That is where Daryl Mitchell and Young did the only good thing for the Kiwis - a partnership of 87 runs. Young played an uncharacteristically long and watchful innings for 71 before New Zealand started losing wickets rapidly again.
Mitchell proved New Zealand's best run scorer with 82 runs. He provided solidity and got out to an unyielding Indian spin attack in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, who took five wickets, while Sundar provided his sharp deliveries, making it four wickets for him, thus limiting the visitor to a total of 235.
India's reply: Early Wickets and the Collapse of Familiar Patterns
India did not take much time getting going as they had their own problems too. Rohit Sharma got going quite well with three boundaries, but could not remain on the crease as he fell for 18 off 18 balls. It seemed to be steady for India at 78/1 at one point of time, but soon everything was all over as there was a spate of wickets.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was the first man to be dismissed having added 30 runs before he was given out. Mohammad Siraj managed no runs as his innings was still short. Virat Kohli was dismissed run out for just 4 runs, not one of his best dismissals. India had lost four important wickets by the end of play, with Shubman Gill unbeaten on 31 and Rishabh Pant unbeaten on 1 to bat on for the day.
Pitch Conditions and Spin Dominance
The pitch had now started to offer turn and bounce, and the spinners of both the teams went on to make hay out of it. The batsmen were not let off because New Zealand's Ajaz Patel was at the helms of the bowling chart for his team and the two wickets that New Zealand required, Patel gave a very good reason to deliver them and the other wicket-taker was William O'Rourke who came chipping in with one and this added more anxiety towards India.
Tense beginning to a match that marks a crucial Test
The third Test, of course, is already proving to be low-scoring and requires caution from both sides in playing the game under the spin-friendly conditions. India is now looking to build upon some kind of lead in the first innings through Gill and Pant on the second day.
The pressure is mounting on both sides to make their chances and not allow the nerves to get the better of them in this much-important Test match.