**India Stumble In NZ 2nd Test, Rohit Out Day 1**

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Post on Oct 24, 2024

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India Stumble in NZ 2nd Test, Rohit Out Day 1

Wellington, New Zealand: India's tour of New Zealand took a turn for the worse on Day 1 of the second Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, as the visitors were bundled out for a paltry 108 runs. The Indian batting lineup struggled against the New Zealand bowlers, with captain Rohit Sharma falling early and the rest of the team failing to capitalize on a good start.

Early Setback for India

The day began with India opting to bat first, hoping to build a strong platform for the rest of the match. However, their hopes were dashed early as Rohit Sharma fell for just 9 runs, caught behind by Tom Blundell off the bowling of Matt Henry. This was a significant blow for India as Rohit has been in exceptional form throughout the tour, scoring a double century in the first Test.

Middle Order Collapse

The departure of Rohit triggered a collapse in the Indian middle order. Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli, who have been the pillars of the Indian batting for years, failed to deliver. Pujara was dismissed for 11 runs while Kohli managed a meager 10 runs. Shreyas Iyer, who has been in good form, also succumbed to the pressure, falling for 22 runs.

Tailenders Fail to Resist

With the top order failing, the onus fell on the tailenders to provide some resistance. However, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja could only manage 25 runs between them. Ishan Kishan, who was promoted up the order, failed to make any significant contribution, scoring just 8 runs.

New Zealand Bowlers Shine

The New Zealand bowlers were relentless in their pursuit of wickets. Matt Henry took a five-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 5/36, while Tim Southee and Neil Wagner chipped in with three wickets each. Their accuracy and movement troubled the Indian batsmen throughout the day.

A Mountain to Climb

With a first innings lead of 108 runs, New Zealand are in a commanding position heading into Day 2. India need to regroup quickly and put in a much-improved performance if they are to have any chance of leveling the series. They will be hoping for better batting performances from their key players, along with improved fielding and bowling to turn the tide in their favor.

This match promises to be a tense and exciting affair, with India needing to fight hard to avoid a series defeat. The pressure is on for the Indian team to deliver on Day 2 and salvage some pride from this disappointing first innings performance.