In a surprising turn of events during the first Test against New Zealand at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Virat Kohli stepped into the No. 3 batting position, filling in for Shubman Gill, who was sidelined by neck stiffness. Kohli's gamble of moving up the batting order, a rare occurrence in his long career with only six previous attempts at this slot, quickly turned disastrous. Despite being warmly welcomed by a home crowd, Kohli faced just nine balls before being dismissed without scoring, unable to handle a challenging rising delivery from pacer Will O’Rourke.
The decision to have Kohli bat at No. 3 was notably unconventional due to his lack of success in the position, with only 97 runs to his name and no half-centuries in 116 Tests. Although former player Saba Karim suggested that KL Rahul was more suited for the role given his experience, the official team sheet ultimately reflected Kohli's name there, leading to confusion and speculation prior to the match.
After a rain-affected start to the Test, which limited play on the first day, attention shifted to the Indian squad looking to maintain its lead in the World Test Championship standings. With crucial matches lined up against New Zealand, India aimed for a clean sweep to enhance their chances for the final at Lord's in June 2024.