Anil Kumble compares Indian and New Zealand batters' approach on Bengaluru pitch
Anil Kumble drew comparisons between the Indian and New Zealand batters' approach on the Bengaluru pitch, which had both pace and swing to offer.
by India Today Sports Desk · India TodayIn Short
- Devon Conway scored a quick-fire fifty vs India
- India managed just 46 runs in their first innings
- India suffered a batting collapse in 1st Test with 5 batters scoring ducks
Former India cricketer Anil Kumble compared the approach of Indian and New Zealand batters on a tricky pitch of M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Day 2 of the 1st Test on October 17, Thursday. Kumble felt that the Kiwis were more patient with their approach and let the ball come onto the bat. He called out India's attacking approach as they aimed to take the aggressive route despite the wickets tumbling regularly. Kumble pointed out the difference in the approaches of the two teams as India bundled out at 46. This was the team's lowest total in Tests at home as the 1st innings saw 4 of the top 7 Indian batters getting out for a duck athome for the 1st time.
"I mean, it's bound to happen naturally because you only have 46 runs on the board. Do you do want early wickets and that's what the two pacers went and searched for, but what was evident from both the New Zealand bats when they waited for the ball to come on to them. There were a couple of balls like that which took off like, you know, back to back in this case for Devon Conway and, I thought, the difference between the Indian batters and the New Zealand batters," Kumble told Jio Cinema.
"Indian batters looked to force things"
Kumble admitted that the conditions got easier to bat and that Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj bowled at the right lengths. He highlighted that the New Zealand batters applied themselves well in the conditions.
"Yes, the pitch has slightly eased out compared to when India came out to bat. But the way the Indian batters looked to force things, New Zealand batters were happy to wait, especially early on with the two fast bowlers and length. I mean, they've been generally good. It's just that, you know, when you wait for a ball and keep waiting as a bowler, you try and that's when India has gone for us, and it starts in difference in terms of the two seamers, and it was played in different conditions," he added.
New Zealand openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway shared a 67-run opening stand with the latter racing away with a quick-fire fifty. Despite Latham's dismissal, Conway and Will Young carried the innings to put New Zealand in command.