The third day of the opening Test between India and New Zealand at Bengaluru turned out to be an exhilarating ride for cricket fans, with an extraordinary 453 runs scored amidst the fall of 10 wickets. As the dust settled at the end of the day, New Zealand continued to hold an advantageous position, but India showed great resilience by delivering a spirited fightback in their second innings.
India’s aggressive batting in the second innings was a spectacle as they amassed 231 runs in just 49 overs at an impressive scoring rate of 4.71 runs per over. This enabled them to drastically cut down the daunting first-innings deficit from 356 to 125 runs. With seven wickets still in hand and two days of play left, India’s prospects in this gripping match remain alive, though New Zealand’s control, deepened by the key dismissal of Indian skipper Virat Kohli for 70 on the last ball of the day, looms large over proceedings.
The Indian innings began with captain Rohit Sharma leading the charge. Sharma’s quick-fire 52 off just 63 balls set a blistering pace, and together with the young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who contributed 35 runs, put up a valuable 72-run partnership for the first wicket. Jaiswal, however, struggled to find his usual fluency and fell trying to exploit the matchup against Ajaz Patel, the left-arm spinner. This was a turning point that led to another bizarre dismissal. Rohit, batting seamlessly, was taken aback when his bottom-edge gently rolled onto the stumps, leaving New Zealand with newfound momentum.
Despite losing two quick wickets, India did not hold back. Sarfaraz Khan strode to the crease with aggressive intent, launching an all-out assault on the New Zealand spinners, particularly singling out Ajaz Patel for some tough treatment. His innings featured a series of commanding slog-sweeps and late-cuts, and when the seamers took charge, Khan audaciously executed an upper-cut for six over the deep backward point region.
The experienced Virat Kohli complemented Khan’s belligerence with his own brand of attacking play against the spinners, and together, they constructed a rapid 136-run partnership.
. Just as it seemed certain that both would conclude the day unseparated, Glenn Phillips, who had a promising chance of removing Kohli earlier, saw Ajaz Patel finally redeem himself by catching Kohli in the slips off his bowling. This wicket concluded the day’s play, handing New Zealand a psychological edge.
While India’s relentless batting efforts were commendable, the limelight of the day rightly belonged to New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra. His remarkable innings of 134 played a pivotal role in ensuring the visitors put up an imposing first-innings total. Picking up from his impressive form in the series against Sri Lanka, Ravindra displayed a composed and masterful approach against both spin and pace. His resistance thwarted India’s hopes of an early wrap-up in the morning, especially during his valuable partnership with Tim Southee, who added a quickfire 65.
The Indian bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja, initially showed intent and discipline. However, once Ravindra and Southee launched their counter-offensive, the pressure mounted on India. Ravindra’s inning was diligent and offered India little opportunity to dismiss him. A notable chance arose at 110 no-out through a pending LBW call against Kuldeep Yadav, but India opted against reviewing, allowing Ravindra to add 24 more crucial runs. As a result, the New Zealand lower order contributed a substantial 169 runs even as wickets tumbled, inflicting a hefty deficit and complicating India’s path back into the match.
As the fourth day’s play unfolds, the stage is set for an exhilarating contest with both sides having the potential to seize the initiative. India’s mounting chase adds intrigue, although their reliance on sustained aggression needs balance against New Zealand’s disciplined attack if they are to overturn the deficit and challenge their rivals further. The match teeters on a knife-edge with fans set to witness another riveting chapter in this cricketing saga.