NEW DELHI: Four innings, four innings of collapse. India has rarely witnessed such a dismal batting display on home soil. They were bowled out for 46 in the first innings in Bengaluru and slumped from 408/3 to 462 all out in the second.
Then came the first innings of the second Test where they managed just 156. And just when it looked like the hosts might have overcome their struggles, another collapse ensued.
As it happened
Chasing 359, the hosts crumbled from 96/1 to 245 all out, another batting failure. India’s unbeaten run of 18 home series came to a disappointing end on the third day of the second Test against New Zealand.
With a win by 113 runs, New Zealand registered their first Test series win against India on Indian soil. The Kiwis had earlier won the first Test in Bengaluru by 8 wickets. The third and final Test of the series will take place at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from November 1.
This was India’s first home Test series loss since December 2012, when Alastair Cook’s England defeated them 2–1 in a four-match series.
Mitchell Santner’s exceptional bowling played a crucial role in New Zealand’s success as he consistently troubled the Indian batsmen throughout the match. His ability to make turns and bounce off the surface made him a constant threat.
His excellent performance, which included a match score of 7/53 and 6/104, highlighted the vulnerabilities of the Indian batting line-up on the turning track.
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (77 off 65) gave India a blazing start in their chase, taking on the Kiwi attack with confidence and aggression. He shared a 62-run partnership for the second wicket with Shubman Gill (23 off 31), who was squared by Santner and moved to first slip. Soon after, Jaiswal, the standout performer, also moved to first slip.
Virat Kohli (17), whose dismissal in the first innings became a big talking point, faltered again and couldn’t offer much resistance despite starting strongly with a backfoot flick for four.
Santner continued to fire away as the pitch played into his hands, with some balls turning away from the bat and others holding their line, all in consistent areas. Jaiswal, who was earlier beaten by the left-arm spinner, could not reach the ball and edged to Daryl Mitchell.
India’s problems deepened when Rishabh Pant (0) was dismissed after a miscommunication with Kohli. Sarfaraz Khan then fell on a ball which turned sharply and bounced off his stump as his bat bounced against the ground in defence.
Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin delayed the inevitable with a 39-run stand for the eighth wicket, but Mitchell Santner struck again to claim Ashwin for his sixth wicket.
Ajaz Patel then contributed with a couple of wickets as India were bowled out for 245.