What To Expect From Day 3 Of IND vs NZ 1st Test In Bengaluru?

New Zealand bossed the second day of 1st Test [Source: PTI]New Zealand bossed the second day of 1st Test [Source: PTI]

What happened on day 2 of the ongoing Bengaluru Test was forgettable, to say the least, for the Indian fans, as New Zealand exhibited a seam-bowling masterclass, dismantling the hosts for 46, their third-lowest total in the purest format. 

Led by Rohit Sharma, India never recovered from the early jitters, losing their key players one by one on a track that had significant assistance for the fast bowlers. The hosts attained a shambolic batting feat, recording their lowest-ever total at home. 

However, as the game progressed, the conditions eased out, with the Kiwi batters putting up a commendable performance. As a result, New Zealand claimed the driving seat, powering themselves to 180 for three and gaining a significant 134-run lead before stumps on day 2. 

What to expect from Day 3 of IND vs NZ 1st Test?

The pitch behaved contrastingly for both sides, playing a pivotal role in New Zealand's overwhelming performance on day 2. While India's decision to bat first on a damp wicket proved costly, the visitors got the ideal batting conditions, with the sun drying up the moisture in the post-lunch session. 

Therefore, as the day progressed, New Zealand batters were able to trust the pace and bounce of the surface and play their shots freely. Nevertheless, the Indian spinners found some assistance, with the ball turning and staying a bit low towards the end of day 2. 

If rain stays away, expect the wicket to be on the drier side, helping the batters as well as the spinners. The pitch will still be pretty good for scoring runs, so how the Indian bowlers apply themselves will determine their fate on day three. 

The third day is always considered the moving day in Test cricket, as it offers more clarity regarding which way the game is tilted. So, all is not lost for India, and they certainly can make a comeback to this match if they keep their patience and hit the right areas. 

New Zealand, on the other hand, would like their batters to grind in the middle and bat as long as possible. They have a golden opportunity to make the most of the batting-friendly conditions and post a mammoth first innings total. Even if they get to something around 400, it will be a daunting task for India to avoid a defeat in this Test match. All in all, a fascinating day of Test cricket awaits us in Bengaluru.