Cricket

Virat Kohli’s return to the No. 3 batting position for the first Test against New Zealand proved to be a costly gamble. With Shubman Gill ruled out due to neck stiffness, the Indian team was left to rethink its top-order strategy at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The absence of Gill, India’s regular No. 3, created a crucial vacancy that needed filling. Rather than bringing in a replacement who had experience in that slot, Kohli took it upon himself to step up—only for the plan to backfire.

Kohli’s Struggle at No. 3: History Repeats Itself

The decision to promote Kohli was unexpected, especially considering his past struggles at this position. In his illustrious 116-Test career, the star batter has seldom batted at No. 3, doing so only six times before this game. With a meager average of 19 and a top score of 41 while batting at this spot, it was a risky move. Despite his phenomenal record at No. 4, where he has consistently delivered for India, Kohli’s choice to shift up in the order seemed to be driven more by the circumstances than by sound strategy.

A Raucous Welcome Ends in Disappointment

The Bengaluru crowd erupted as Kohli strode to the crease, filling the void left by Rohit Sharma’s dismissal in the 7th over. The Indian skipper had just lost his stumps trying to take on Tim Southee, and in walked Kohli—barely waiting for Sharma to leave the field. There was a sense of anticipation, a belief that Kohli would turn things around at his IPL home ground. However, reality quickly set in. Nine balls later, a rising delivery from young pacer Will O’Rourke proved too hot to handle. The ball jagged back in sharply, took the inner edge of Kohli’s glove, and was safely pouched at short fine leg. The bold experiment had ended in disaster—Kohli was dismissed for a duck.

Rain, Changes, and the Toss: A Challenging Start for India

It wasn’t just the gamble on Kohli that made things tricky for India. The persistent rain leading up to the match had already delayed play on Day 1, turning the Test into a four-day contest. Under cloudy skies and floodlights, Sharma’s decision to bat first was a clear attempt to capitalize on a potentially deteriorating pitch. New Zealand, on their part, chose to strengthen their pace attack by including three seamers and spinner Ajaz Patel.

India made two changes to their playing XI, with Sarfaraz Khan and Kuldeep Yadav coming in for the injured Shubman Gill and Akash Deep. Sarfaraz, though included in the lineup, was an unusual choice for the No. 3 spot due to his limited experience in the top order, leaving Kohli to fill in the role instead.

India’s WTC Hopes on the Line

The stakes for India in this series couldn’t be higher. Currently leading the World Test Championship standings, a 3-0 sweep against New Zealand would all but guarantee their place in the final at Lord’s next June. With the next Tests scheduled in Pune and Mumbai, Kohli and his men are hoping to overcome the shaky start in Bengaluru and build on the momentum from their recent 2-0 series victory against Bangladesh.

New Zealand’s Subcontinental Struggles Continue

For New Zealand, the tour has been a grind. After a washed-out Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida and a 2-0 series loss in Sri Lanka, their challenges have mounted on the subcontinental tracks. The conditions are hardly favorable, and a reduced four-day Test at Chinnaswamy poses its own set of difficulties for the visiting team.

Looking Ahead

As the series unfolds, the big question remains: who will step up to fill the void left by Gill’s absence? While Kohli’s experiment at No. 3 did not yield the desired results, the team management may have to reassess their strategy to secure a strong position in the remaining Tests. With the second Test just around the corner in Pune, a crucial opportunity awaits India to regroup and reinforce their push towards the WTC final.