Twitter Reactions: New Zealand thump listless India by 10 wickets in Wellington to go 1-0 up in the series

India have lost their first match in the ICC Test Championship. They went down meekly against New Zealand in the first of the two-match Test series in Wellington. This also turned out to be Virat Kohli and his men’s first Test loss in 14 months. The visitors were bundled out for 191 runs in their second innings and it took only more than an hour for New Zealand to pick last six wickets even as Tim Southee ended up with another five-wicket haul.

It took only 1.4 overs for the hosts to chase down nine runs in the second innings, the target which India had set for them before getting bowled out. Tom Latham and Tom Blundell didn’t even break a sweat to go past the winning line as the former played a sumptuous drive before his partner completed the formalities. Interestingly, this is also the 100th Test match victory for the Kiwis in their cricket history.

Southee and Boult run through India again

Earlier, the day began with a slender of hope for India with Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari holding forte. The duo had to blunt the ball in the first hour before the new ball arrived. But to the visitors’ dismay, their vice-captain was nipped out in the third over of the day itself courtesy Trent Boult. The left-arm seamer came round the wickets to angle the ball into the batsman and Rahane just poked at the delivery to edge it to the keeper.

Hanuma Vihari then played on an incoming delivery from Tim Southee in the very next over to virtually end India’s hopes. Rishabh Pant was there in the middle but the task was too tough for him to score runs from one end. Though the youngster tried his best along with Ishant Sharma and helped India take the lead. Ravi Ashwin‘s poor Test with the bat ended with Southee pinning him in front of the stumps.

Ishant too got out in the same fashion to Colin de Grandhomme after which Pant tried to hit out and score some quick runs. But even he couldn’t do much and was caught at fine leg for 25. Southee completed his five-fer and 10-fer in the match in the same over snaffling out Jasprit Bumrah as India got skittled for just 191 runs setting only 9-run target for the home side which they chased down comfortably.

With the series on the line, India now will have to make amends for their poor show in the first Test. They will also be hoping to grab the 60 points on offer in the Test Championship.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Why could NZ seamers get the ball to swing and deviate more than Indian seamers? Because on this surface wrist at an angle to swing the ball was needed. All three Indian seamers, though top class, are not really out & out swing bowlers.#INDvNZ

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 24, 2020

That was quick from New Zealand. And very disappointing from India. It was always going to be very tough but this was a pack of cards. Just 47 in 17 overs. The disappointing away run continues!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 23, 2020

Three middle order batsmen scored 22,21,22 and the players who got runs, Agarwal and Rahane, didn't get enough. And Ashwin the batsman needs to reappear. Have an extra day to regroup but these are good players and you have to back them to deliver.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 24, 2020

Blundell and Latham knock off the runs to give New Zealand their 💯th Test win! 🎉 👏

A great all-round performance by the hosts to take a 1-0 series lead 🏆 #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/Rab1LpS8P1

— ICC (@ICC) February 24, 2020

Waking up at 4am to see the match Indian fans be like #NZvIND #INDvsNZ well played mayank and rahane 👌😏 pic.twitter.com/6RwjzXs0vS

— Vishal (@vishalj352) February 24, 2020

Rishabh Pant was the only batsman who looked positive in both innings, he also played the defensive game well curbing his natural instincts in the 1st innings. He looked matured in this test match. If Rahane didn't run him out, he could scored a 50.

— Shiva (@shivabelieves) February 24, 2020

why the helll Kohli didn't bowl Vihari in the 100.2 overs India bowled, he didn't bowl Kedar in the ODIs, Kohli is not even good in using the part timers #NZvIND Ishant Rishabh Pant Tim Southee #NZvIND #NZvsIND

— Shiva (@shivabelieves) February 24, 2020

Expecting Captain Cutie to drop Mayank Agarwal and Rishabh Pant in the next match since they've performed better #NZvIND

— Abhishek (@ImAbhishek7_) February 24, 2020

Another unnecessary shot from Rishabh Pant in today's test match, just like in world cup semi finals🤷‍♂️. With this unnecessary shot we can say he don't have common sense in cricket. Remember how VVS Laxman played in same situation by hitting 4s and last ball singles #rishabhpant🤦‍♂️

— raghavendra prasad (@prasadraghava) February 24, 2020

Abysmal performance from the no. 1 Test team,
Kiwis have trounced team india by 10 wickets. #cricketlive #testcricket #NZvIND #TeamIndia #NewZealand #NewsUpdate #cricketnews

— Tejash Parekh (@imtejash_) February 24, 2020

So India is ranked at 1 in the ICC rankings and they just got slaughtered by the Black Caps. Seriously that was a three day Test. Let's hope India turns it around for the second Test. Tremendous win by NZ. #NZvIND

— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) February 24, 2020

Tweeted this last evening but was hoping that our team would prove me wrong. Unfortunately, they didn't. #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/826RKheSOs

— C.VENKATESH (@C4CRICVENKATESH) February 24, 2020

'spirit of cricket' award harm more than any thing else. #ThankYouKohli #NZvIND

— Awanish🏏🥱 (@awanish45_) February 24, 2020

New Zealand beat India by 10 wickets in the first Test at Basin Reserve 🏏

– 100th Test match victory for New Zealand.
– First loss for India in ICC Test Championship.#Cricket | #NZvIND | #1stTest | #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/TeQFKfjaFk

— Cricerz 🏏 (@Cricerz) February 24, 2020

Though NZ bowled a lot of short deliveries, but most of their wkts came through fuller length balls! And, Southee being a major contributor at that, with 9 wickets in this match. What a legend for NZ! Well deserved man of the match award for him.#NZvIND #INDvsNZ

— Aniruddh (@aniruddhacts) February 24, 2020

New Zealand beat India by 10 wickets in the first Test at Basin Reserve 🏏

– 100th Test match victory for New Zealand.
– First loss for India in ICC Test Championship.#Cricket | #NZvIND | #1stTest | #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/15QQQOjV6Q

— CricYes (@CricYess) February 24, 2020

Still 6 months we have for t20 WC, play kohli as a batsman only make Rohit t20 captain. 😴😷

Kohli bhai after the match- We did put in good efforts but we were not disciplined.

Good effort 🤷‍♂️
Good effort 🤷‍♂️
Except Mayank aggarwal and Ishant whose effort was good 🤔#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/i6FLJYmSTF

— Vardhan H. chhabra (@imvardhan_hc) February 24, 2020

Highest target successfully chased down by any team under Virat Kohli's captaincy in test cricket – 9#NZvIND

— Kausthub (@kaustats) February 24, 2020

Inning defeat loading.. I was expecting rahane-vihari to atleast save us from an inning defeat.. but our test specialists can't even do this much even after playing just one format.. but everyone will keep ranting about Kohli to be at his best in every damn format🤦‍♀️ #INDvsNZ

— Anju Negi Rawat🇮🇳 (@anjubharatrawat) February 23, 2020

kohli ki beard mai white hair bhi hai i just noticed. #nzvind

— ankit (@ankitwot) February 24, 2020

Kyle Jamieson & Trent Boult (No 9 and 11) with the bat for for NZ in one innings – 82/2

Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Prithvi Shaw & Hanuma Vihari (4 of top 7) in both innings combined – 95/8

Bumrah & Shami bowling figures – 191/2

NZ got India out for 165 & 191#NZvIND

— Aditya (@forwardshortleg) February 24, 2020