Bengaluru: From being a fortress when it comes to draining facilities in M Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru, the Indian team reduced to 46 in the first innings against New Zealand on Day 2 of the opening Test. Yes, even after morning rain breaks, what appeared as a testing track for the Indian batsmen looked much softer for the Kiwi batsmen who were bundled out for 180 runs in a mere four hour stay at the crease, engrossing a lead.
By the end of this pitch, the new behavioural change left many wondering how a lethal surface changed gears to become a batting friendly wicket.
The Relationship between Weather Conditions and the Turf
What was witnessed at the Chinnaswamy on Thursday morning is a strict no-no in the Indian pitches usually. It was somewhat easier on the first day while on the second morning the batting wasn’t quite so easy. India took the crease when the inspection of the ground after rains that lasted over 24 hours led to the playing surface being covered and this exposed the strip to dampness and moisture. Worse still, more clouds were formed over the stadium, an aspect that denied the pitch an opportunity to dry up.
These conditions could not have been better for New Zealand’s pace bowling which was benefiting from the wickets which were similar to those at home. The quartet of seam bowlers made good use of the humid conditions, swing and movement posed early problems to the Indian batsmen for the session.
Promising Shift As Sun rises and the work lights up.
Afterwards, when New Zealand was asked to take the crease following the lunch interval, the weather was quite totally different. While they could have had initial problems akin to those in India, as the game advanced, the overcast gave way to sun and the Bengaluru’s sun made the pitch dry. Once the shine departed starts were getting easier and easier to come by, and the Kiwi batsmen took full advantage of the easier batting conditions in the last part of the session.
Indian Pacers Fail to Emulate New Zealand’s Performance
India’s bowlers Bumrah and Siraj were unable to seize the advantage that prevailed early on in the match. Both bowlers tried to get a swing by bowling the ball marginally straighter but were indecisive about their line. Surprisingly, Bumrah and Siraj messed it up big time and often bowled a very poor line, too short which gave very comfortable starts to the Kiwi batsmen.
The Absence of a Third Pacer
One significant blunder in India’s case were their choice to take three fast bowlers into the match. Siraj and Bumrah failed to deliver the breakthroughs they have been providing all series and India were definitely crying out for a third seam option, a bowler to continue the pressure from the other end. Selection of playing three spinners blew up an anti climax as both R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja looked for movement but it was scarce due to dampness early in the match. Even while the sun was out to dry the surface Spinners got some turn and were able to take wickets, by which time New Zealand had set a very good total.
Lack of fielding ability increases India’s problems
Some of the causes of their downfall include India’s fielding. While New Zealand fielders put up a brilliant show in terms of what can be termed as spectacles while getting rid of Indian batsmen, the Indians let go of several opportunities. KL Rahul had a simple catch when Siraj was bowling in the powerplay and Rohit Sharma spilled two catches off Jadeja’s bowling. These losses provided chance to New Zealand to make more partnerships and to reinforce the advantage.
What was once a good Test match for India turned into a catastrophe because the team could not seize the new situation. Lack of consistent bowling, shoddy fielding and over estimating the conditions put India on the back foot in a game that could have been won. Things are much more flexible for New Zealand now, as India need to bounce back from adversity in order to gain anything from this Test match.