India found itself teetering towards a major collapse as they lost their fifth wicket—Rishabh Pant—in the ongoing first Test against New Zealand at Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium. The visitors’ bowling attack has kept the Indian batting order on a tight leash, with Glenn Phillips clinching the key wicket of Pant at a pivotal moment in the innings.
The dismissal left India under immense pressure, struggling to stabilize a faltering lineup. Rishabh Pant, on whom many Indian fans pinned their hopes, managed just 18 runs off 19 balls before a mistimed shot cost him his wicket.
In the 31st over, Phillips delivered a good-length ball on middle and off, enticing Pant to attempt his trademark pull shot. ‘ However, the ball skidded lower than expected, missing Pant’s bat on the under-edge and crashing into the stumps.
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The wicket marked a crucial breakthrough for New Zealand, as Pant’s aggressive style had previously turned games around, including a valiant partnership with Sarfaraz Khan that nearly secured him a century and saved India from a heavy defeat in the last match. This time, though, Pant’s shot selection fell short as the delivery’s low bounce led him to misjudge his pull. His dismissal leaves India with half their lineup back in the pavilion, facing a challenging chase to bridge the considerable gap set by New Zealand.
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The Kiwis gained an early advantage by winning the toss and electing to bat. Strong performances from Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra helped them reach a solid total of 259 before India began their reply. Day 1 saw India in trouble early on as captain Rohit Sharma departed for a nine-ball duck.
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Day 2 brought no respite, with the team losing wickets steadily as Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sarfaraz Khan also fell prey to New Zealand’s disciplined bowling. As India headed to lunch, they trailed New Zealand by 152 runs, needing a remarkable effort from the lower order to stay competitive in the match.
