NEW DELHI: At around 4:45 pm, India had 78 runs on the board for the loss of just one wicket against New Zealand and were in cruise control mode with the close of play approaching.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill had raised a 53-run partnership with India closing in on taking the opening day honours after folding the visitors to a below-par 235.
But then, the fans at the Wankhede witnessed something dreadful and unfortunate as India, out of nowhere, suffered yet another collapse, losing three wickets in just 8 balls, leaving everyone absolutely stunned.
Committing a harakiri late on the opening day, India ceded the advantage, finishing at 86 for four and another 149 runs adrift of New Zealand’s first innings score.
In the final 15 minutes, India suffered a shock collapse, losing opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, nightwatchman Mohammed Siraj and star batter Virat Kohli in the span of just 8 balls as the BlackCaps made a stunning comeback and put India on the mat.
It was the second ball of the 18th over from Ajaz Patel where it all began.
Going for a pre-meditated reverse slog-sweep off a Ajaz quicker ball outside leg, Jaiswal missed the ball completely and saw his stumps in a mess.
It was a needless shot from Jaiswal considering the close of play in sight. But the left-hander backed himself and went for the extravagant hit. However, the shot selection from Jaiswal was not good enough as he was caught in no man’s land. As Ajaz bamboozled a set Jaiswal for 30, India lost their second wicket of the innings.
Seeing that the close was around the corner, India sent in nightwatchman Mohammed Siraj to negotiate the remaining overs alongside Shubman Gill. But Ajaz had other plans as he got rid of Siraj for a golden duck. As Ajaz bowled a near-perfect tossed up delivery on middle and leg from round the wicket, it turned nicely to deceive a forward-lunging Siraj, who was looking to work in on the on side.
The ball, after pitching, turned and went past Siraj’s blade and it hit him on the knee roll. The on-field umpire had no hesitation in ruling Siraj out but the batter after having a chat with Gill surprisingly decided to review it.
As the third umpire confirmed the on-field call, Siraj took a review with him as well.
After the perfect double wicket maiden from Ajaz, skipper Tom Latham brought on left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra into the attack with Kohli having faced three balls in the Ajaz over.
Gill took a single off the first ball and Kohli then played a lovely shot off a Rachin full-toss for a boundary on the leg side to open his account. But on the very next ball, Kohli tried to steal a non-existent run and paid the price for it with his wicket.
As Kohli pushed the Rachin’s fourth ball of the over to mid-on, he called for a single straightaway. But he misjudged the run as it proved to be a disaster. Matt Henry hit the bull’s eye from mid-on and a diving Kohli found himself short by a couple of yards. Soon after the third umpire ruled Kohli run out, even head coach Gautam Gambhir wore a stoic look on his face.
Rishabh Pant (1*) and Shubman Gill (31*) then took a single each as India ended the day at 86 for 4.
