BENGALURU: In Bengaluru, former captain Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan played pivotal roles in India’s comeback against New Zealand, both scoring half-centuries to help the team recover from a disappointing start. Skipper Rohit Sharma also contributed with a solid 52, leaving India at 231 for three and reducing New Zealand’s lead to 125 runs by the end of day three in the first Test.
The day was marked by an impressive tally of 453 runs, the second-highest recorded in a single day of Test cricket in India, alongside the fall of 10 wickets. A day prior, India had been bowled out for just 46, trailing by 136 runs from the first innings. New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra had driven the visitor’s total to 402 with his second Test century, establishing a mountain for India to climb.
With a shift in strategy, India adopted an aggressive batting approach, scoring at over five runs per over despite late resistance from Glenn Phillips, who dismissed Kohli for 70 on the last ball of the day. Sarfaraz was left unbeaten on 70 as he formed a threatening partnership of 136 runs with Kohli.
Opening pair Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit provided a strong foundation with a 72-run start in just 17 overs. Although Jaiswal was dismissed after scoring 35, Rohit kept the momentum going, reaching his fast-paced fifty off 59 balls before falling to an unfortunate dismissal shortly after.
Kohli, eager to erase the memory of his first-innings duck, took his time before finding his groove, eventually scoring his 31st half-century off 70 deliveries. Sarfaraz, filling in for the injured Shubman Gill, capitalized on his chance, reaching his fifty in just 43 balls.
As the pitch conditions eased, both batsmen utilized the opportunity to attack the New Zealand bowlers efficiently. However, Kohli narrowly escaped dismissal when he was dropped on 53, only for Phillips to claim his wicket on the day’s final delivery.
In the backdrop of this match action, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant remained sidelined after sustaining a knee injury on the second day. Dhruv Jurel took over behind the stumps while Pant’s recovery was closely monitored by the BCCI medical team.
Earlier in the day, New Zealand resumed their innings at 180 for three and quickly lost wickets but saw Ravindra shine, scoring a brilliant 134 off 157 balls with 13 boundaries and four sixes, alongside a 137-run partnership with Tim Southee (65). Kuldeep Yadav claimed three wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravichandran Ashwin each contributed to the wicket tally.
Brief Scores:
India: 46 and 231/3 (Sarfaraz Khan 70*, Virat Kohli 70, Rohit Sharma 52; Ajaz Patel 2-70).
New Zealand: 402 (Rachin Ravindra 134, Devon Conway 91; Ravindra Jadeja 3-72). India trails by 125 runs.
Agencies