The batting lineup, which featured several high-profile names, failed to establish any meaningful momentum throughout the day. The innings was defined by a series of top-order failures, with five different Indian batters departing without troubling the scorers. The inability to form partnerships left the side in a precarious position early on, as the New Zealand A pacers exploited the conditions to dismantle the visitors' batting order.
Keene leads New Zealand A bowling charge
The struggles were evident from the outset. KL Rahul, expected to anchor the innings, was dismissed for a duck after facing eight deliveries, edging a delivery from Sheat to the wicketkeeper. Yashasvi Jaiswal showed some initial resistance with 17 runs off 45 balls before his dismissal, while Devdutt Padikkal provided the most stability with a 77-ball 32. However, the middle and lower order crumbled rapidly, with Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, and Washington Sundar all failing to reach double figures.
Rathod provides late resistance
As wickets tumbled at regular intervals, Yash Rathod emerged as the lone warrior for the Indian side. Coming in when the team was in deep trouble, Rathod played an aggressive counter-attacking innings, finishing unbeaten on 44 from just 49 balls. His knock included three fours and three sixes, providing the only real resistance against the New Zealand A attack.
Rathod’s efforts allowed India A to cross the 100-run mark, though he lacked support from the tail. The final five wickets fell for just 55 runs, with Mukesh Choudhary becoming the final man to fall to Keene. With the pitch continuing to favor the bowlers, India A now faces the challenging task of taking early wickets to prevent the hosts from building a commanding lead in the match.
