Ganesh Kendale
NEW DELHI: One thing that Team India needed the most after getting bowled out for just 46 runs against New Zealand were quick wickets.
In their first innings, India were bundled out for just 46 runs – their lowest Test total at home and their third lowest Test total overall at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Day 2 of the first Test on Thursday.
Indian bowlers tried their best to get an early breakthrough and a relatively easy chance also came their way in the 13th over courtesy Mohammed Siraj.
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Siraj bowled a short of length delivery and induced an edge off New Zealand captain Tom Latham’s bat and the ball flew towards the slips between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul stationed at first and second slip respectively.
But to everyone’s disbelief, both didn’t go for it and the ball went between them racing to the third man fence.
The ball was closer to Rahul but for some reason he didn’t go for it and later suggested that he didn’t spot the ball that well.
It was a catch for the taking at the international level and both Kohli and Rahul, who both scored ducks with the bat, continued their horrible day in the field on their ‘home ground’.
The great Sunil Gavaskar, while commentating suggested that a revamped slip cordon (due to the absence of Shubman Gill), maybe the reason of the chance going through.
India captain Rohit Sharma, already facing flak for choosing to bat first after winning the toss, was clearly not amused by the lapse in the field and showed his frustration by throwing his arms in disgust.
