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New Zealand pacer Matt Henry credited his IPL experience for playing a crucial role in his team's dominant performance against India on Day 2 of the first Test in Bengaluru. The Black Caps bowled out India for a paltry 46 runs, taking advantage of the overcast conditions that resembled a typical Christchurch morning rather than a sub-continental pitch.
How IPL experience helped Matt Henry cause India's batting collapse
Henry, who claimed five wickets for 15 runs, highlighted the importance of adapting to different conditions and maintaining patience. His IPL experience, where he has faced top-class Indian batters, undoubtedly helped him in understanding their strengths and weaknesses.
"It was a great way to start the day but also the way we could build pressure. There was a lot of grass taken off, and we just wanted to keep it simple as there was a lot of assistance in the morning," Henry said after Day 2 stumps.
He said his stint with the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL helped him adapt to the Indian conditions.
"Every time you come back here, it helps. With the game affected by rain, it's important to have a dominant day like this," he further added.
India's nightmarish batting in Bengaluru makes headlines
New Zealand, after being asked to bowl first, exploited the seamer-friendly conditions to dismantle the Indian batting lineup. Matt Henry and William O'Rourke were the architects of India's collapse, taking five and four wickets respectively. Henry's disciplined bowling and O'Rourke's sharp, rising deliveries proved too much for the Indian batters.
Tim Southee set the tone early, dismissing Indian captain Rohit Sharma with a well-directed delivery. Despite opting to bat first, India struggled to cope with the challenging conditions, drawing parallels to their infamous 36 all-out performance in Adelaide three years ago. Yashasvi Jaiswal, attempting to counter the swing, struggled to find his rhythm and was eventually dismissed by O'Rourke. Virat Kohli, surprisingly batting at number three, was dismissed for a duck, failing to negotiate a rising delivery.
India's batting collapse continued after the early dismissals of Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Sarfaraz Khan, who replaced Shubman Gill, fell early while attempting an aggressive shot. India was reduced to 10/3, putting them in a precarious position. Rishabh Pant briefly counterattacked, but his stay was cut short by a dropped catch. However, the Indian batting lineup continued to crumble, with Jaiswal's dismissal to Ajaz Patel being a crucial turning point. India reached lunch at 34/6, and the remaining four wickets fell quickly after the break.
New Zealand's disciplined bowling, particularly from Matt Henry, put India under immense pressure. With a commanding lead, New Zealand is in a strong position to secure a victory, while India faces a daunting task to recover from their worst-ever home batting performance.
