Bangalore Test Exposes India’s Batting Fragility Against New Zealand

Bangalore has often been a favorable venue for India when batting first, where the pitch generally allows the batters to score freely and post big totals. However, during this particular encounter against New Zealand, the conditions proved to be far from batting-friendly, causing immense difficulty for India’s top order.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s early dismissal set the tone for what turned out to be a challenging morning. Bowled by Tim Southee, Rohit’s attempt to go for big runs early wasn’t a display of his usual maturity. His aggressive approach didn’t pay off, and it became clear that India’s batters were not adjusting to the swinging conditions.

Sarfaraz Khan followed a similar path. Trying to hit boundaries while the ball was still moving against a disciplined New Zealand attack led to his downfall. Both Sharma and Sarfaraz perished cheaply, underlining the importance of adapting to the conditions rather than pursuing runs hastily.

Virat Kohli’s dismissal was perhaps the most telling of the difficulties faced by India’s batters. Known for his technique and composure, Kohli was undone by a new bowler he had never faced before, with the ball rising sharply and unexpectedly.

Attempting to play a controlled shot, Kohli ended up edging the ball, which was caught cleanly by Glenn Phillips. His dismissal for a duck only highlighted the challenges posed by New Zealand’s relentless bowling unit.

New Zealand’s pacers, including Tim Southee, William O’Rourke, and Matt Henry, took full advantage of the conditions. Their ability to extract extra bounce and movement made life difficult for India’s batters, who found it hard to settle at the crease. Unlike recent matches against Bangladesh, where India was able to score quickly, the New Zealand bowlers gave no such freedom, consistently applying pressure.

Fielding, too, was a factor. New Zealand’s sharpness in the field ensured that even half chances were converted into wickets, adding to India’s troubles.

This match served as a wake-up call for India. While they have dominated in conditions where batting is easier, the challenge of adapting to tougher, swinging conditions remains.

Going forward, particularly with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia on the horizon, India’s batters will need to adjust their approach, understanding that runs won’t always come easily. Batting cautiously, playing each ball on its merit, and weathering difficult spells will be crucial if India is to succeed in such testing conditions.

It’s been a while since Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have made significant contributions with the bat. With no half-centuries from them in recent matches, the pressure is mounting for these key players to find form ahead of future series. Conquering challenging conditions like those in Bangalore will be key to their resurgence.