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The second day of the first Test between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru witnessed a dramatic turn of events as the visiting bowlers took control, dismantling India's batting lineup with a barrage of wickets. After rain wreaked havoc on the first day, the second morning presented the ideal conditions for New Zealand's fast bowlers to shine, and they seized the opportunity with aplomb. The day's hero was William O'Rourke, who finished with impressive figures of 3-13, while Matt Henry provided excellent support with 2-12, leaving the Indian batting order in disarray. The visitors' bowlers, utilizing the favorable pitch conditions, exploited the extravagant seam movement and swing to great effect, leaving the Indian batsmen struggling from the very beginning.
The early stages of the day saw a tense battle between the bowlers and the Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Both batsmen faced a constant barrage of deliveries, with several close calls for dismissals. However, Tim Southee eventually broke through the resistance, dismissing Rohit Sharma with a nip-backer that castled his stumps. This dismissal came as a result of Rohit's attempts to unsettle the bowler by charging down the pitch, only to find himself back in the pavilion. O'Rourke, who had impressed on the recent tour of Sri Lanka, then delivered a massive blow in his very first over. The tall pacer, generating high speeds, sent down a delivery that reared up disconcertingly on Virat Kohli, forcing him to fend at the ball. The result was a low catch to Glenn Phillips at leg gully, leaving Kohli out for a duck.
The dismissals of Rohit and Kohli left India reeling at 10/2, and their situation worsened further when Sarfaraz Khan was dismissed for a duck by Matt Henry, with Devon Conway taking a brilliant one-handed catch at mid-off. India found themselves in dire straits at 10/3. Rishabh Pant, surprisingly promoted to number five ahead of KL Rahul, tried to counterattack New Zealand's nagging bowling. He even attempted a reverse sweep, and was fortunate to be dropped by Tom Blundell behind the stumps. A brief rain interruption provided a temporary respite for India, but upon resumption, New Zealand continued their relentless pressure, and Ajaz Patel produced another moment of magic in the field to end Jaiswal's resistance at the crease. This dismissal proved crucial, as India then lost four of their top seven batsmen for ducks, including Rahul and Jadeja, leaving them stranded at a paltry 34/6. This collapse was a huge setback for India, and it seemed like New Zealand had won the toss despite the bowler-friendly conditions. The responsibility now falls heavily on Pant and the lower order to salvage a respectable first innings total.