Rachin Ravindra emerged as the standout performer on the third day of the high-stakes first Test match between India and New Zealand, held in Bengaluru. Ravindra, the young left-handed batsman, delivered a masterful performance, notching up his second Test century with an unbeaten 104 off just 125 balls. His innings played a pivotal role in bolstering New Zealand’s dominance as they continued to exert pressure on the hosts. This well-crafted knock was exactly what the visitors needed, especially after a determined Indian bowling attack had launched a spirited fightback earlier in the day.
The morning session had begun with India’s bowlers on a mission, eager to capitalize on the overnight momentum. Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah spearheaded this charge, each claiming a wicket within the first 30 minutes of play. However, a resilient Ravindra Jadeja soon joined the fray, executing two crucial dismissals that seemed to tilt the scales in India’s favor. At that moment, New Zealand found themselves reeling at 233/7, a far cry from their earlier position of strength at 193/3.
Yet, the momentum of the match shifted once more with the emergence of the partnership between Ravindra and Tim Southee. The two combined forces for an unbroken stand of 112 runs, gradually overpowering the Indian bowling attack that had appeared so penetrating at the day’s commencement. Ravindra was instrumental in this recovery, leading the scoring efforts with an impressive mix of aggression and precision.
Demonstrating exceptional skill against the turning ball, Ravindra displayed a keen understanding of the pitch conditions, using both his feet and crease effectively to counter the Indian spinners. His assertive approach saw him take on Ravindra Jadeja, exploiting the favorable match-up to dispatch multiple boundaries and a few towering sixes.
. Even the usually formidable Ravichandran Ashwin found himself on the back foot, as the Ravindra-Southee duo plundered 20 runs off his over, significantly impacting India’s plans.
India, on the other hand, found themselves grappling with a loss of composure during the latter stages of the morning session. The urgency to finish off the innings quickly led to inconsistent execution among the bowlers, as seen with their inability to dislodge the resolute eighth-wicket pairing. While Jadeja remained a beacon of hope with his probing spells creating occasional uncertainty for Ravindra, the inability to break the stand became costly. As a result, New Zealand extended their lead to a daunting 299 runs, placing India in a precarious position with the pitch expected to further deteriorate in the coming days.
The commendable resistance offered by Ravindra and Southee effectively countered all the progress India had achieved earlier in the morning. Siraj and Bumrah’s early breakthroughs, which saw Daryl Mitchell caught at gully and Tom Blundell dismissed to arrest the Kiwi scoring, now seemed a distant memory. The Indian camp’s hope that batsmen Glenn Phillips and Matt Henry, who had attempted to accelerate the scoring, would succumb to Jadeja’s cunning was short-lived as Ravindra and Southee cemented their stand, thwarting India’s hopes of a quick second innings commencement.
Looking ahead, the relentless effort by Ravindra, duly supported by Southee, places New Zealand in a commanding position going into the final days of the Test. With an imposing lead and India’s faltering momentum, the visitors are poised to press for victory, putting India under immense pressure to bounce back on a wicket expected to turn even trickier.
Brief scores saw India at a struggling 46 all out, with notable performances from New Zealand’s Matt Henry, who claimed a five-for with figures of 5-15, and William O’Rourke’s 4-22. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s robust score of 345/7 was headlined by Rachin Ravindra’s exquisite 104* and Devon Conway’s valuable 91, setting the stage for what could be a decisive phase in the Test match.