IND vs NZ: Not one of the finest days in Indian cricket, as India finally ended their winning streak on home soil with a Test match defeat against New Zealand in the first test at Chinnaswamy.
The iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru marked the 36-year-long wait of the Kiwis to mark a win in Test match cricket in India. The newly announced Kiwi skipper Tom Latham has marked New Zealand’s iconic victory and also helped them to fancy their chances into the WTC.
A Brief Summary of the IND vs NZ First Test
After India’s initial batting collapse in the first innings, where they were all-out for the second-lowest test score for India in their history, 46-all-out. New Zealand, on the other hand, bounced back as Devon Conway and later Rachin Ravindra, the hometown boy from Bangalore, alongside Tim Southee, put on a stern 402.
With the decent start handed to the Indian team with the likes of opener Rohit Sharma and also the veteran Indian batter Virat Kohli, who played a vital knock at the track often said to be his second home.
After Indian batters with the likes of Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant gave their best to pull off India to a very respectable total, the lower order failed to capitalize as India could not extend their lead further than 106 runs.
After receiving praise for his maiden Test hundred at the Chinnaswamy before lunch, Sarfaraz Khan scored a perfect 150. Rishabh Pant, who was amazed at playing some stunning cricket, also missed his hundred by a whisker, as he was dismissed for 99. India raised a total of 462, as India could post a target of 107 to the Kiwis.
While bad light prevented further play on Day 4, New Zealand batters came in to chase down a target of 107 on the final day. After a rain-delayed morning, skipper Latham alongside Conway came in to bat.
Jasprit Bumrah first dismissed the likes of New Zealand skipper Tom Latham for a duck, while later in the final over of his spell he struck against Conway with a delivery that enchanted a gospel for the Indian team.
What effect might New Zealand’s win have on India’s chances for the WTC final qualification?
India is currently at the top of the WTC points table, as they are the most assured team that would be confident enough to enter the WTC finals for the third time in the history of the tournament.
However, for India, who seem to be a very confident side in the WTC, the team needs to win at least 5 of their 8 games. Hence, even a loss in the first test would not be what would cost them big time; this would in no way jeopardize India’s chances for the WTC final at Lord’s.
But on the contrary, this would surely affect their morale as India has had an unbeaten streak at home in Test match cricket, which is now broken after New Zealand created history by winning their first-ever test match in India after 36 years.
However, since the final 5-matches, of which now India would have to manage a minimum of 3 wins, are to be held in Australia, the first loss against New Zealand at home would add to the concerns of the Men in Blue. A clean sweep in the home series would have strengthened their chances into the WTC. India disputed the loss and remained positioned at the top.
While New Zealand now has advanced to 4 WTC wins and a PCT of 44.44, the Indian PCT has dropped to below 70, now placed at 68.06.
UPDATED WTC 2023-25 Points Table:
| SL.NO | TEAM | PLAYED | WON | LOST | DRAW | DED | POINTS | PCT |
| 1. | India | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 98 | 68.06 |
| 2. | Australia | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 90 | 62.50 |
| 3. | Sri Lanka | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 55.56 |
| 4. | New Zealand | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 44.44 |
| 5. | England | 18 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 19 | 93 | 43.06 |
| 6. | South Africa | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 38.89 |
| 7. | Bangladesh | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 33 | 34.38 |
| 8. | Pakistan | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 28 | 25.93 |
| 9. | West Indies | 9 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 18.52 |