The third day of the first Test between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru unraveled into a gripping contest filled with exhilarating cricketing moments, as both teams battled fiercely on the field. A staggering total of 453 runs were amassed amidst the fall of 10 wickets, making it a day to remember. At the close of play, New Zealand managed to maintain its commanding position, but India gave the visitors a strong challenge with a spirited second innings performance.
Taking to the field with a massive first-innings deficit of 356 runs, India displayed remarkable resilience and aggression, scoring at a brisk pace of 4.71 runs-per-over across 49 overs. This spirited performance saw them reduce the deficit to 125 runs, keeping their hopes alive in the game with seven wickets in hand and two days remaining. However, New Zealand remains in a favorable position, having claimed the crucial wicket of India’s Virat Kohli for 70 on the last ball of the day.
Setting the tempo for India’s fightback in the second innings, captain Rohit Sharma struck a quickfire 63-ball 52, sharing an opening stand of 72 runs with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who contributed a more subdued 35. Despite not finding his best rhythm, Jaiswal played a significant role before being dismissed while attempting to capitalize on Ajaz Patel’s left-arm spin, exploiting what appeared to be a favorable match-up. This breakthrough for New Zealand against the flow of play was soon compounded by Rohit’s strange dismissal. The Indian captain, who was batting fluently, experienced an unexpected bottom-edge that trickled slowly onto his stumps, leaving him in disbelief. These two dismissals handed New Zealand the momentum to push for further inroads into India’s batting lineup.
Despite these setbacks, India managed to maintain their aggressive stance thanks to an assertive Sarfaraz Khan, who played with an attacking mindset from the moment he arrived at the crease. He targeted the New Zealand spinners, displaying an array of shots, especially against Ajaz Patel. Sarfaraz’s belligerent strokeplay featured impressive slog-sweeps and late-cuts, and when faced with pace, he unleashed an audacious upper-cut that sailed over deep backward point for six.
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Former captain Virat Kohli also joined the aggressive effort in taking on the spinners with confidence. The partnership between Kohli and Sarfaraz blossomed and flourished into a 136-run stand, achieved at a rapid pace. However, in a dramatic end to the day, Glenn Phillips, the off-spinner for New Zealand, managed to get Kohli to edge one to the slip, where Ajaz Patel made no mistake after earlier missing a catching opportunity. This late breakthrough allowed New Zealand to finish the day on a positive note.
While India’s combative batting performance was a highlight, the day was largely dominated by New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra, whose superbly composed innings of 134 laid the foundation for a formidable first-innings total. Building upon his recent promising performances in Sri Lanka, Ravindra showcased his adeptness against both spin and pace. His innings were marked by a calm poise, even as other wickets tumbled around him. Alongside Tim Southee’s aggressive 65, Ravindra played a pivotal role in extending New Zealand’s innings and frustrating India’s efforts to dismiss the visitors quickly in the morning session. The Indian bowling trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja initially bowled with intent, but once the Ravindra-Southee partnership took off, the pressure on India intensified.
Ravindra’s innings was virtually flawless, with India’s only real opportunity to dismiss him arising when he was on 110. However, a potential LBW decision off Kuldeep Yadav was not reviewed by the Indian team. Ravindra capitalized on this reprieve to add another 24 runs, as New Zealand’s tail wagged effectively, accumulating 169 runs for the final three wickets, thereby leaving India with a daunting task of overcoming a 356-run deficit. While India has put forth a commendable effort, they would have been further bolstered had Kohli managed to remain unbeaten at the close of play. The match is now poised for an enthralling fourth day, with both teams set to continue their hard-fought battle for supremacy.
Brief scores: India 46 and 231/3 (Sarfaraz Khan 70*, Virat Kohli 70, Rohit Sharma 52; Ajaz Patel 2-70) trail New Zealand 402 (Rachin Ravindra 134, Devon Conway 91; Ravindra Jadeja 3-72) by 125 runs.