India struggles to 86-4 as 14 wickets fall

Fourteen wickets fell on the opening day as India’s cricketers struggled to 86-4 in reply to New Zealand’s 235 all out in the third Test.

India lost three wickets for six runs in seven deliveries just before stumps were drawn.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 30 off 52 balls, was bowled by left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel. Patel then trapped Mohammed Siraj lbw for a golden duck before Virat Kohli was run out with a direct hit from Rachin Ravindra for four in the next over.

Shubman Gill finished unbeaten on 31, with Rishabh Pant 1 not out.

Earlier, after New Zealand had won the toss and chose to bat, Ravindra Jadeja picked up his 14th five-wicket haul in tests as New Zealand lost seven wickets for 76 runs. Jadeja claimed 5-65 while Washington Sundar took 4-81.

Daryl Mitchell top-scored with 82 and Will Young made 71. Akash Deep trapped opener Devon Conway lbw for four before captain Tom Latham added 44 runs with Young for the second wicket.

Sundar bowled Latham for 28 and Ravindra for five. Young was then caught at slip off Jadeja in the 45th over. Then, three balls later he bowled Tom Blundell for a duck. Jadeja then bowled Glenn Phillips for 17 just before the tea break.

After the interval, Jadeja trapped Ish Sodhi lbw for seven and bowled Matt Henry for a duck. Sundar then had Mitchell caught and further finished things off by removing Patel lbw for seven.

India’s innings began with Rohit Sharma scoring 18 before he was caught off Henry. He had been dropped on 15.

Jaiswal and Gill then put on 53 for the second wicket ahead of India’s late collapse.

New Zealand won the first two tests in Bengaluru and Pune by eight wickets and 113 runs respectively, registering a landmark first test-series win in India.