Sarfaraz Khan scored a brilliant century (125 off 154 balls) with a healthy strike rate, including 16 fours and 3 sixes. He was well supported by Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 53 runs, which came at a crucial juncture. Earlier, India were bowled out for a meager 46 runs. Matt Henry and William O’Conway wreaked havoc on the Indian batting lineup, picking up 5 and 4 wickets respectively.
India staged a remarkable comeback after being bowled out cheaply. They added an unbeaten 113 runs in the 22 overs possible before lunch at a startling rate. This fightback was led by Sarfaraz Khan, who scored his maiden Test century, and Rishabh Pant, returning from injury with a crucial half-century.
A major disappointment for New Zealand was Ajaz Patel, whose spin was less effective than part-timer Rachin Ravindra. The third day of the Test in Bengaluru saw a total of 453 runs scored. However, before the batting took center stage, the Indian bowlers had their say, picking up 4 wickets for 40 runs, putting New Zealand in a tight spot.
In the first innings, New Zealand’s batting thrived. Devon Conway scored a quickfire 91 runs off 105 balls, including 11 fours and 3 sixes. Rachin Ravindra made a phenomenal debut, scoring 134 runs off 157 balls with 13 boundaries and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 85.21. However, the drama unfolded as the New Zealand batters dominated the Indian bowling attack. Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee stitched together a crucial 137-run partnership off just 132 balls. Southee, in particular, forced the Indian bowlers on the defensive, scoring 65 runs.
Kuldeep Yadav provided some breakthroughs for India, picking up the wickets of the promising Tom Latham, Ajaz Patel, and most importantly, the well-set Rachin Ravindra. Ravindra Jadeja also chipped in with 3 wickets. Both bowlers ended the innings with 3 wickets each.
After being bundled out for 46 in the first innings, New Zealand responded with a strong total of 402 runs. Currently, India are in a strong position in their second innings, scoring 344 runs for the loss of only 3 wickets. However, the weather might play a role as the day progresses.
