IND vs NZ 2024: 3 players who starred and 2 who flopped in the 1st India vs New Zealand Test match ft. Ravichandran Ashwin & Sarfaraz Khan
Team India's Test rubber against New Zealand got off to an unceremonious start at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Rohit Sharma and Co. lost to the Black Caps by eight wickets in an unprecedented result.
It was a mixed performance from India, who were bowled out for a paltry 46 in the first innings after electing to bat first. The hosts tried to worm their way back into the contest with a plucky display in the second essay, but it wasn't enough.
On that note, here are three players who starred and two who flopped in the first T20I between India and New Zealand.
#5 Star - Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah finished the Test match with only three wickets to his name, but that wasn't an accurate representation of the way he bowled. The fast bowler was India's biggest threat with the ball for most of the encounter.
Bumrah finished the first innings with an economy rate of 2.15 without much help from the deck. He kept things tight in and around the off stump, and the Kiwi batters were more than happy to respect him. The ace spearhead gave India a bit of hope on Day 5 with two wickets, but it was never going to be enough.
#4 Flop - KL Rahul
Continuing to bat in the middle order at No. 6 despite Shubman Gill's absence at No. 3, KL Rahul turned in yet another disappointing display. The crowd at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru cheered him on at every opportunity, but he was caught in no man's land once again.
Rahul was dismissed in soft fashion in both innings as the New Zealand fast bowlers found it all too easy to coax a false defensive shot out of him. He has been given every opportunity to succeed in the middle order, but he doesn't seem capable of grabbing them with both hands.
Even Rahul's slip catching, which is usually reliable, let India down in Bengaluru.
#3 Star - Sarfaraz Khan
A stiff neck for Gill meant that Sarfaraz Khan entered the fray. The middle-order batter slotted in at No. 4, and while he was dismissed for a duck in the first innings, he came up with an extremely meaningful contribution in the second essay.
Sarfaraz notched up a sensational maiden Test hundred to give India a fighting chance. He first helped the home side erase the deficit and went on to convert his century into a 150. While he was dismissed soon after reaching that milestone, he did enough during his marathon stay at the crease.
Sarfaraz used areas behind square well and smartly turned over strike to Rishabh Pant when needed. It'll be interesting to see what approach India take if Gill is fit for the second Test.
#2 Flop - Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin had an off game in Bengaluru with both the bat and the ball. Despite New Zealand having three left-handers in their top four, he wasn't trusted much. And when he bowled, the off-spinner seemed out of rhythm and was inconsistent with his lengths.
Ashwin also seemed uncomfortable while batting. He barely hit anything out of the middle and failed to help India's lower order come up with another rearguard display.
With the hosts adding Washington Sundar to their squad for the second Test, it's worth asking whether Ashwin is dealing with an undisclosed niggle.
#1 Star - Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant is easily one of the world's best Test batters right now. While a blow to his knee meant that he didn't don the gloves for large portions of the encounter, he batted for a long time in the second innings without much discomfort.
Pant's trademark shots against the spinners were in full effect. The left-hander also took the attack to the Kiwi pacers, bashing Tim Southee for a six that went out of the Chinnaswamy Stadium. He was dismissed on 99, but not before he had made an immense contribution.
It's also worth mentioning that Pant top-scored for India in the first innings.