New Zealand Faces Early Setback as Latham Falls for Duck

New Zealand achieved a historic test victory in India for the first time since 1988, triumphing by eight wickets on the final day of the first test. After dismissing India for a mere 46 runs—India’s lowest home total—the Kiwis responded with a solid 402 in their first innings. In the second innings, New Zealand bowled out Rohit Sharma’s team for 462, setting the stage for their win and taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Will Young (48 not out) and Rachin Ravindra (39 not out) displayed composure under pressure, guiding New Zealand to chase down the 107 runs needed for victory after losing two early wickets. This win marked only the third time New Zealand has triumphed on Indian soil in 69 years.

Achieving this historic result without their injured batting star Kane Williamson showcases the team’s resilience, making them only the third side, after England and Australia, to defeat India at home since 2013.

Pace bowlers Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke took a total of 15 wickets in the match. New captain Tom Latham, who took over after Tim Southee’s resignation, expressed the challenge of the victory, noting that it had been 36 years since New Zealand last won in India. He emphasized the team’s hard work in both innings and celebrated the achievement as a proud moment for the group.

New Zealand Faces Early Setback as Latham Falls for Duck, but India Struggles to Overcome Massive First-Innings Deficit

New Zealand had a rough start after a rain delay, with captain Latham out for a duck to Jasprit Bumrah’s second delivery of the day. Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj troubled the New Zealand batsmen as India aimed to achieve a historic comeback after conceding a first-innings lead of over 350 runs. Devon Conway faced tough conditions before falling lbw to Bumrah for 17. However, first-innings centurion Ravindra steadied the innings, helping New Zealand navigate through challenges until Will Young hit the winning runs.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma reflected on their batting struggles in the first innings but highlighted the positives from their second innings, where Sarfaraz Khan scored 150 and Rishabh Pant added 99, giving India a fighting chance. Rohit noted that despite the tough situation, the team’s spirit remained strong, emphasizing their determination not to give in.

The series continues with matches in Pune and Mumbai, forming part of the World Test Championship. India came to Bengaluru seeking a big win to boost their chances for the 2025 final, but now they must fight to maintain their impressive record of 18 consecutive home series victories since 2012.