The first Test match played between India and New Zealand on 20 October 2024 in which Team India had a very bad performance. New Zealand completely outclassed India on Day 1 to achieve a comprehensive victory, with India batting’s worst dramatic collapse ever seen, scoring only 55 runs, which marked the lowest home Test score of India.
Current batting woes of the Indian cricket team
The batting of India was under tremendous pressure from the very onset as it saw its key batsmen, such as Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, get bowled cheaply. Spearheaded by New Zealand’s opening bowling duo in Trent Boult and Matt Henry, who had cleverly judged the pitch conditions in Bengaluru to provide much swing and seam movement, Boult was rampant in taking out the famed Indian top-order with clinical precision.
Virat Kohli had a gut-wrenching day in his backyard, getting out for a duck to drag India deeper into the mire. Indian batting collapses have always been shocking, especially since New Zealand’s pace attack was something they couldn’t handle as well, making it one of the key narratives of the match. The visitors concluded at 55, and India’s record of lowest score in home Tests was thus broken. Before this, their lowest score was equal to West Indies which was 75 runs.
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New Zealand Supremacy
When New Zealand replied with the bat it was like chalk and cheese . Devon Conway took the affairs of his team in charge from the very front, scoring a brilliant hundred. It was a masterclass on patience and technique as he waited out the early pressure by Indian bowlers. Tom Latham, the NZ skipper, did solid things, taking the good course while putting his team into a commanding position.
New Zealand was able to put up a good total even with India’s bowling lineup that contained pacers Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah in the lines. Conway’s watchful batting ensured New Zealand accumulated a good lead in the first innings. India’s bowlers struggled and did not make inroads frequently, as New Zealand took away the momentum of the Test match.
Unwanted Records for India
But despite the disastrous batting, India set a few unwanted records on this ground. Their score of 55 was the lowest in a home Test, and the five ducks they recorded in the innings during the current home Test series are the highest duck count for an Indian innings in home Tests. This dawdling batting was a cause of worry about India’s ability to combat swing and seam conditions against quality fast bowling like the Kiwis.
Moreover, India’s surrender in this Test shared a rapport with the embarrassing collapse in Adelaide against Australia in 2020, when they were bowled for just 36. Being defeated in such situations multiple times in the recent past has become of serious concern for Indian cricket especially in the Test matches.
Impact on the ICC World Test Championship
This sets India’s prospects in the ICC World Test Championship at a significant stake. Critical points such as now will be under threat because the first Test loss can distort India’s position in the race for the final qualification. The series is now highly important, and India must win the remaining Tests to continue their chances.
Going Forward
They will raise many queries over team selection and tactics as India do after this. Everyone has claimed it to be a very bold decision taken by Rohit Sharma as he chose to bat first in swinging conditions. For India, they have to regroup there, figure out the top-order batting and also answer how New Zealand were relentless with their bowling attack.
The real test for India will come in the next match, as the team has to take a lot from where it left off and change a lot if things are not going their way anymore, lest they are embarrassed further and salvage the series at large.
Conclusion
The first Test between India and New Zealand, starting October 20, 2024, is more likely to be remembered for India’s shocking collapse than New Zealand’s clinical performances. India would look to come back from this lost battle as the series progresses, but New Zealand will be much better placed with the early success. The lessons India acquire from this Test will prove very decisive, not only for this series but also for future contests in the World Test Championship.
