Former India head coach Ravi Shastri was clearly disappointed with India’s dismal batting performance in the first Test of the series against New Zealand at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
India were dismissed for just 46 runs in their first innings as five batters were dismissed without opening their accounts. Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and R Ashwin were those batters who got out for ducks.
Seeing Kohli, Sarfaraz, and Rahul standing in the slip cordon during New Zealand’s first innings, Shastri couldn’t hold himself back from taking a dig at these batters.
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Ravi Shastri takes a brutal dig at Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, and KL Rahul
Ravi Shastri was in the commentary panel when New Zealand started its innings. Ravi Shastri was disappointed and shocked at the same time seeing five ducks in India’s scorecard. As the camera panned out to Kohli, Rahul, and Sarfaraz in the slip cordon, Shastri took a cheeky dig at India’s middle-order batters.
“When you see that scorecard, you think there will be a duck party happening there. Five ducks! “It’s unheard of in India – lowest score, the team has been bowled out for 46. All three standing in slips, all out for ducks,” Ravi Shastri said during commentary.
The score is India’s record-lowest total at home and the third-lowest total overall in Tests. It was a shocking performance from India, who have been so dominant at home over the last few years. Like any other former cricketer, Ravi Shastri was also shocked by India’s performance.
Rohit Sharma admits his mistake
India captain Rohit Sharma admitted that he made the wrong call after winning the toss. The pitch provided extreme help for the fast bowlers during the morning session of Day 2 after Day 1 had been washed out due to rain.
“I’m hurting a little bit because I made that call. But see, for us as a team, I think these are the challenges,” Rohit said after the day.
New Zealand’s seamers shine on Day 2
New Zealand’s seamers were excellent on the day as Matt Henry, William O’Rourke, and Tim Southee tore apart India’s batting line-up on helpful conditions. Henry finished with 5-15 while O’Rourke picked up 4-22.
While India were dismissed for just 46 runs, New Zealand piled up a mammoth first-innings score of 402, thanks to a magnificent hundred from Rachin Ravindra and fifties from Devon Conway and Tim Southee. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja picked up three wickets each while Mohammed Siraj finished with 2-84.
Ravindra smashed 134 off 157 balls while Conway scored 91 off 105 balls. Southee provided some late-hitting cameo with a brilliant 65 off 73 deliveries as New Zealand took a first-innings lead of 356 runs, thus leaving India with a mountain to climb when they come out to bat.
