NEW DELHI: The first India vs New Zealand The Test in Bengaluru got off to a dramatic start as the hosts got off to a tough start with skipper Rohit Sharma, star Virat Kohli and a returning Sarfaraz Khan losing cheaply in the first hour of the morning session on Day 2.
After the entire opening day of the first Test was washed out by rain, India won the toss and surprisingly opted to bat in overcast conditions against a powerful Kiwi pace attack.
And the decision quickly backfired for India as Rohit was bowled over for just two runs in the seventh over after a cautious start. As Rohit looked to go over the top, he missed an incoming delivery from Tim Southee with the ball crashing into his stumps.
Soon after Rohit’s departure, India suffered the Kohli blow as the star batsman was killed for a nine-ball duck.
In the absence of an injured Shubman Gill, Kohli came in at number 3 but his stay in the middle was short-lived as he was caught by Glenn Phillips off William ORourke’s leg gutter.
Interestingly, Kohli’s last duck in a Test match also came against the Kiwis on their last tour, where he walked back without scoring at the Wankhede in Mumbai.
India’s next shock came in the next over, when a returning Sarfaraz played a poor shot and Devon Conway was caught at extra cover off Matt Henry. As Sarfaraz tried to force an offside shot off a long ball from Henry, he got the underside and the ball lobbed up. Conway then dove to his right and made a stunning catch.

With Conway’s sharp ball, Sarfaraz took off for a three-ball duck.
Sarfaraz’s dismissal left India at 10 for 3 in the 10th on the second day.
It was the first time since the 2010 Ahmedabad Test against New Zealand that India had lost more than 3 wickets for 10 runs or less at home.
A few overs later the rain returned as play stopped and India’s score was 13 for 3 in 12.4 overs