India’s batting performance in the ongoing Test match against New Zealand at Bengaluru was nothing short of shocking, as they collapsed for a mere 46 runs on Day 2 after a rain washout on the first day. The decision to bat first, coupled with a disciplined New Zealand bowling attack led by Matt Henry, exposed India’s vulnerabilities, raising questions about both their strategic and mental approach in this crucial fixture.
Strategic Decisions: The Choice to Bat First
India’s decision to bat first on a damp pitch after the first day was washed out by rain was a bold, yet questionable move. Typically, teams choose to bowl first in such conditions, allowing their seamers to exploit the moisture in the pitch. However, India’s confidence in their batting lineup may have been misplaced, considering the swinging conditions that greatly benefitted New Zealand’s seamers. The Indian management may have underestimated the movement on offer, setting the stage for a disaster. A more conservative decision to bowl could have put New Zealand on the back foot and allowed India’s pace attack to make early inroads.
Technique and Temperament: What Went Wrong?
For a top-order boasting players like Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Rohit Sharma, the lack of resilience was startling. The dismissals of five key batters, including Kohli, for ducks point to both technical and mental lapses. The Indian batsmen seemed tentative in their approach, playing with half-hearted footwork and minimal intent to counter the swinging deliveries. This led to edges, lbws, and bowled dismissals, suggesting that the team was mentally underprepared for the conditions.
The tactical failure of the Indian top-order lies in their inability to adapt. With the ball swinging consistently, the batsmen could have applied more defensive techniques, especially early in the innings. Instead, loose shots outside the off stump became the norm. Players of Kohli’s and Pujara’s caliber are expected to shoulder such pressure, but their dismissals reflected a lack of patience and an inability to graft runs, a crucial trait in Test cricket.
Matt Henry’s Five-Wicket Haul: Exposing India’s Batting Weaknesses
Matt Henry was relentless with his line and length, bowling in the channel of uncertainty and allowing the pitch conditions to assist him. His five-wicket haul was not a fluke but a result of consistent bowling discipline. He extracted swing, both conventional and reverse, to keep the batsmen guessing. By consistently targeting the off stump and forcing India to play, Henry exposed a key flaw in India’s batting approach: a lack of adaptability against swing.
India’s inability to manage swing has been a recurring theme, particularly against high-quality seam attacks. Henry and his colleagues bowled fuller lengths, forcing the Indian batsmen to drive on a pitch that had variable movement. The lack of a proper counter-strategy—such as leaving more balls outside off or using the crease better to negate swing—showed India’s susceptibility to seam movement. Going forward, India must learn to adapt to such conditions and refine their technique in playing late, close to the body, to avoid getting caught behind or trapped lbw.
India’s Long-Standing Struggles Against Seam Bowling
India’s long-standing struggles against quality seam attacks, especially outside the subcontinent, are well-documented, but the fact that these struggles have surfaced even on home soil is concerning. Historically, Indian pitches have favored spin, allowing the Indian batsmen to thrive. However, when confronted with pitches that offer seam movement, as was the case in Bengaluru, Indian batsmen have faltered repeatedly. This problem stems from a combination of technical flaws and mental blocks.
The mental aspect is critical, as Indian batsmen seem to freeze under pressure against quality seamers. This collapse once again highlights India’s lack of preparation in handling conditions that deviate from their traditional strengths. Even at home, the tendency to play premeditated shots, rather than adjusting to the conditions, has contributed to such collapses. Teams like New Zealand have consistently exposed this flaw by maintaining discipline in their line and length.
Lessons and Implications: What Should India Do Next?
This collapse is a wake-up call for India. Going forward in the series, India must:
1. Reassess their Strategy: The decision to bat first on a damp pitch was a tactical miscalculation. Moving forward, India should be more flexible in adapting to the conditions on hand, rather than relying on past successes or reputation.
2. Improve Defensive Techniques: The Indian batsmen need to adopt a more compact defense, especially when facing swing bowlers. Playing late, leaving balls outside the off-stump, and focusing on survival during tough spells is essential to weathering such storms.
3. Mental Fortitude: India needs to develop greater mental resilience when facing quality seam attacks. This includes avoiding rash shots and focusing on building partnerships, rather than chasing quick runs or playing expansive strokes too early in the innings.
Conclusion: How India Can Bounce Back
The psychological impact of being bowled out for just 46 runs will weigh heavily on India. Their confidence is likely to take a hit, but the key will be how quickly they can regroup. The rest of the series provides an opportunity for redemption, but India will need to make quick adjustments to their mindset and technique.
Immediate changes could include bringing in more aggressive yet technically sound players like Shubman Gill or Hanuma Vihari, who have shown better adaptability in challenging conditions. Additionally, the Indian management must emphasize mental preparation and adaptability in dealing with seam-friendly conditions, as these weaknesses are being ruthlessly exploited by opponents.
India has the talent to recover from this setback, but they must acknowledge and address these recurring issues if they are to regain control of the series and assert their dominance on home soil.
