India captain Rohit Sharma has admitted that he made a 'misjudgement' in opting to bat first in the first Test match against New Zealand, after India were bowled out for 46 on day one.
The first two sessions were washed out on the opening day of the series in Bengaluru, but the rain stopped in time for the toss to take place ahead of the third session. Rohit called correctly and chose to bat first. Shubman Gill was unable to take part in the Test, meaning that Virat Kohli was moved up to No.3 and Sarfaraz Khan slotted into the middle order.
After Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal struggled under overcast conditions for the first six overs, New Zealand made their first breakthrough, with Rohit bowled by Tim Southee. Will O'Rourke got Kohli caught at leg gully two overs later for a nine-ball duck, before Sarfaraz followed four balls later caught by a stunner by Devon Conway.
Drizzle caused another disruption for the batters, bringing a break in play shortly after Sarfaraz's wicket. When they did come back on, New Zealand's seamers continued to cause problems, beating both edges and generating a plethora of chances. In the end, India were only able to last 31.2 overs, with five batters sent back for ducks. Henry finished with a five-for, taking India's final wicket to seal their third-lowest Test score of 46.
Following the day's play, which New Zealand finished on 180-3, leading by 134 runs mainly thanks to 91 from Conway, Rohit was quizzed on his decision at the toss.
"We thought it won't help seamers much after the first session or so, there wasn't much grass too," said Rohit at the post-play press conference. "We thought it would be flat. It was a misjudgement and I couldn't read the pitch well."
India also chose three spinners in their XI rather than three seamers, leaving them light on options to exploit the conditions as the Test went on. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj shared seam duties on day one, with R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja took a wicket apiece.
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