India vs New Zealand 2nd Test, Day 1: Live Score - A Day of Dominance for India
The second Test match between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai began on Friday, February 3rd, 2023, with the Indian team looking to capitalize on their dominant win in the first Test. Day 1 of the match saw India asserting their dominance, leaving New Zealand on the back foot at the end of the day's play.
India's Strong Start
India won the toss and elected to bat first, and they got off to a strong start. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill put on a solid opening partnership, scoring freely and reaching a century stand in no time. While Gill departed for a well-made 44, Rohit continued his aggressive innings, reaching his century in the first session itself.
Virat Kohli's Return to Form
The day saw a much-awaited return to form for Virat Kohli, who had been struggling for runs in recent times. He came in at number three and played with a newfound freedom, smashing his way to a quick-fire half-century. Kohli and Rohit's partnership was crucial in building a strong foundation for India, with Kohli departing just before the tea break.
Late Wickets and a Strong Finish
After Kohli's departure, India lost a couple of quick wickets, but Shreyas Iyer and Ravindra Jadeja steadied the ship. Iyer played a fluent innings, scoring a half-century and keeping the scorecard moving. However, the day concluded with India losing two quick wickets, with Jadeja and Iyer falling in quick succession.
New Zealand's Struggles
New Zealand's bowling attack was unable to find a way to break India's momentum throughout the day. They struggled to contain the Indian batsmen, with only a few moments of resistance. Tim Southee and Matt Henry were the most successful bowlers for New Zealand, taking two wickets each.
End of Day 1 - India's Dominant Display
At the end of day one, India were in a commanding position, having scored 347/5. Shreyas Iyer remained unbeaten on 82, and Ravindra Jadeja was on 36. New Zealand will need to come up with a strong performance in the field and with the bat to have any chance of pulling back the match.
Key Takeaways from Day 1
- India's dominance: India's batting was impressive on Day 1, with Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli all scoring significant runs.
- New Zealand's struggles: New Zealand's bowling attack was unable to contain the Indian batsmen, and they will need to improve their performance in the coming days.
- Shreyas Iyer's crucial innings: Iyer's 82 not out was a crucial contribution for India, and he will be looking to build on this strong start.
- Virat Kohli's return to form: Kohli's half-century was a welcome sign for India, and he will be looking to continue his good form.
Day 2 Preview
Day 2 of the match promises to be an exciting one, with India looking to build on their strong start and declare their innings. New Zealand will be looking to fight back and make a strong impression in the field. The match is likely to be decided by the team that can maintain their momentum throughout the coming days.
Stay tuned for the live score updates and analysis from the second Test match between India and New Zealand.