India’s cricket squad started strong in the third Test against New Zealand, held in the sweltering heat of Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The opening day’s play of this pivotal encounter saw India riding high on the back of stellar performances from Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. Jadeja’s five-wicket haul, his second of the year in the Test cricket arena, and Sundar’s crafty spell underscored India’s commanding presence on the field.
The day commenced with New Zealand captain Tom Latham electing to bat first after winning the toss, a decision seemingly favorable given the bare pitch on offer. However, this advantage was quickly nullified by India’s well-coordinated bowling assault that sought to limit New Zealand’s progress.
The Indian bowling machine, despite missing the services of the ailing Jasprit Bumrah, found an early breakthrough in Akashdeep. He made his mark in only the fourth over of the day by trapping Devon Conway right in front of the stumps. This early setback immediately placed New Zealand on the back foot and highlighted the value of India’s strategic decision to slot Mohammed Siraj into the lineup as Bumrah’s replacement.
Understanding the placid nature of the Wankhede pitch, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma deployed his spin duo—off-break specialists Sundar and the experienced Jadeja. This tactical move quickly bore fruit. Sundar delivered a remarkable ball that bamboozled Latham and clattered into his off-stump, a delivery that heralded the beginning of New Zealand’s troubles. Before the New Zealanders could catch their breath, Sundar delivered another identical ball to remove Rachin Ravindra, reinforcing India’s upper hand.
However, the Kiwi batters were not ready to throw in the towel yet. Will Young and Daryl Mitchell, through grit and determination, mounted a resistance with an impressive 87-run partnership for the fourth wicket. This alliance not only stabilized the Kiwi innings momentarily but started tipping the scales back in favor of the tourists.
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But just as New Zealand seemed poised to recover, Jadeja struck to dismiss Young, breaking the partnership and rekindling India’s spirits. Jadeja’s prowess with the ball allowed him to slice through the rest of New Zealand’s batting lineup, eventually elevating his Test wickets tally past the records held by Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, marking another milestone in his illustrious career.
Amid the fall of wickets, Daryl Mitchell fought valiantly. Batting with composure, he not only steadied New Zealand’s innings but also showcased aggression as the innings dragged into the Kiwi tail. Unfortunately, Mitchell fell short of a century, dismissed at 82 by a rejuvenated Sundar, leaving New Zealand bundled for 235 runs.
The Kiwi response was immediate and sharp. Indian opener Rohit Sharma’s stint was cut short by Matt Henry in the seventh over, setting an aggressive tone from the New Zealand bowlers. Despite this early hiccup, Shubman Gill strode to the crease to form a promising 53-run partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal for the second wicket.
The end of the day’s play approached with an air of seesawing tensions. Jaiswal, failing to perfect an ambitious reverse sweep, was bowled by Ajaz Patel. The Indians made the tactical move of promoting Mohammed Siraj to number four in the batting order, hoping to protect the middle lineup. This plan, however, backfired as Siraj fell LBW to the first delivery he faced.
To compound India’s misfortunes, Virat Kohli was run out amid desperate single-seeking efforts, capping off another chapter in the ongoing India-Kiwi saga. By stumps, India found themselves at 86 for the loss of four wickets, trailing by 149 runs, with Rishabh Pant and Gill at the crease aiming to navigate this tricky path laid out by the day’s events.
As the sun set on the first day of this gripping Test, both teams displayed strategic brilliance and tenacity, setting the stage for what promises to be an enthralling battle of skills and wits in the days ahead.
