On the first day of the Mumbai Test, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja delivered an impressive performance by taking 5 wickets. Alongside him, Washington Sundar took 4 wickets, limiting New Zealand to a first-innings score of 235 runs. After the tea break, New Zealand was all out, giving India the opportunity to bat. However, the team’s performance was disappointing. In just 19 overs, India lost 4 wickets, squandering a chance to capitalize on the first day.
At stumps, India stood at 86 for 4, with Shubman Gill (31 runs) and Rishabh Pant (1 run) not out. India lost key wickets, including Rohit Sharma (15), Virat Kohli (4), Yashasvi Jaiswal (30), and night-watchman Mohammed Siraj (0).
The two teams had shared control over the day’s play across two sessions. Initially, India seemed to be in command, but a sudden collapse, losing 3 wickets for 6 runs, let New Zealand regain control, leaving the Indian team on the back foot.
Despite resilient innings from Will Young (71) and Daryl Mitchell (82), India managed to bowl New Zealand out for a modest 235. Jadeja’s 5 wickets were instrumental, and Washington Sundar added 4 more to his tally, with Akash Deep claiming 1 wicket.
India began their innings after New Zealand’s dismissal. Rohit Sharma, in good form and hitting three boundaries, unexpectedly fell for 15 to a ball by Matt Henry, edging it to second slip. India lost its first wicket with 25 runs on the board.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Gill steadied the ship, taking the score from 25 to 78 for the second wicket. Both batsmen appeared set for a long session but Yashasvi, attempting a reverse sweep off Ajaz Patel’s straight delivery, was clean-bowled at 30.
Night-watchman Siraj came in but was trapped lbw by Ajaz on the very first ball. There were high expectations for a big innings from Kohli, but he too disappointed, getting run out while attempting a single off Rachin Ravindra.
India went from losing 1 wicket at 78 to being 84 for 4. Pant arrived as the last batsman of the day after Kohli’s dismissal, managing only a single run before the umpires called stumps.
Gill and Pant will resume India’s innings tomorrow, with fans hopeful for significant contributions from both players.
