India lost 3/6 in 8 balls in the last 15 minutes to end Day 1 at 86/4 in reply to NZ’s 235
MUMBAI: This is not brain drain. It’s a brain explosion. In the eight ball, Team India treated their fans to a horror show just a day after Halloween. Just over 10 minutes before stumps, Yashasvi Jaiswal, looking independent as he scored 30 (52b, 4×4) in a 53-run second wicket partnership from 64 balls with Shubman Gill (31 batting, 38b, 2×4, 1×6), chose to reverse the sweep of the ball Ajaz Patel who was placed on the leg stump. The ball hits leg and middle stump. 78 for one in 17. 2 overs suddenly it’s 78 for two.
If that was not stupid enough, India, instead of sending one of the three allrounders, asked Tailender Mohammed Siraj to do the job of nightwatchman. He got out LBW for a golden duck to Patel, giving the Kiwi left-arm spinner a chance to bag the hattrick. Then, Siraj burned the review as well, even though it was on the front. 78 for three at 17.3.
The worst is yet to come. Even as Virat Kohli prevented a hat-trick, he played a role in India’s final burst in his little time under the lights, which spoiled India’s First Day show against New Zealand in the third and final Test Wankhede finished. Driving the ball around mid-on, Kohli (4) takes a single for no as Matt Henry launches it straight to the stumps. 84 for four in 18.3 overs.
This is the second time in two innings that Kohli has been involved in an unnecessary runout. In India’s second dig in Pune, eagerness for a quick single at backward point has led to Rishabh Pant getting out for a duck. His prowess to strike on Friday shows that Kohli is not only short-tempered, but also lacking in confidence.
In the space of six runs and seven balls, India, suffering its latest collapse, lost three wickets. Their dressing room looked shocked with head coach Gautam Gambhir in disbelief.
Before this unthinkable phase of cricket, captain Rohit Sharma (18; 18b, 3×4), playing a Test at the Wankhede after 11 years, gave further proof of why he can outshine the best, getting a square when attempting a half-pull. Henry’s letter, only to be pouched by partner Tom Latham at second slip.
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In five rounds in this series, all 37-year-old has put together 80 runs, with only one half-century. Even here, he was lucky to survive after being dropped on 15 at long leg by Henry’s William O’Rourke.
In Nov 2013, Rohit had announced his arrival on the Test stage with a thrilling century at this venue in Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell Test. Will this outing be the last innings, at least at the Wankhede, if not at home, for him and some other stalwarts of India’s golden generation?
The collapse from 78-1 to 86-4 completely negated the good work of spinners Ravindra Jadeja (5/65) and Washington Sundar (4/81 in 18.4 overs). Both sides progressed on a pitch that provided turn and bounce on Day One after seamer Akash Deep caught opener Devon Conway LBW as the Kiwis folded for 235.
If the visitors get 15-20 runs above par on this pitch, where the play is not easy, they should be grateful for the excellent half-centuries by Daryl Mitchell (82; 129b, 3×4, 3×6) and Will Young (71; 138b, 4×4, 2 x 6). While Mitchell is to be commended for the way he performed despite constantly battling cramps due to the heat and humidity in Mumbai, Young deserves credit for filling the big shoes of the Kiwi who beat Kane Williamson at No. 3 spot. Both used their legs and swept well to neutralize the spinners.
Abandoning his uncharacteristically poor form at home, Jadeja took his 14th five-wicket haul, while the impressive Sundar, carrying on from his magical 14-wicket haul in the last Test in Pune, once again overshadowed his senior off-spinning colleague R Ashwin.
Just one wicket will put Ashwin past the great Indian leg-spin Anil Kumble’s record of 38 wickets at the Wankhede, but the 38-year-old finished wicketless, a pale shadow of his former self.
