
New Zealand sit in pole position to win the Bengaluru Test after they gained a 356-run lead in the first innings against India in the first of the three-match Test series. While India were humiliated in the first innings after being bowled out for 46, the hosts made a solid start with Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan leading the revival in the second innings. At Stumps on Day 3, India were 231/3 and trailing by 125 runs with Sarfaraz batting on 70 while Virat got out on the final ball of the day on 70.
Tasked to narrow the lead of 356 runs, India made a good start to their second innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal (35) and Rohit Sharma (52) stitching an opening partnership of 72 runs. Despite the positive start, they both were dismissed in quick succession as India went from 72/0 to 95/2. However, it was the Virat-Sarfaraz partnership that laid the foundation for India’s revival as they staged a partnership of 136 runs for the third wicket before the former was dismissed on the final ball of Day 3.
The Indian pair was scoring at a rate of more than five runs per over before the day was diluted by Kohli’s untimely dismissal. Sarfaraz will now be joined by KL Rahul on Day 4 as Team India look for a way back into the contest.
Having closed Day 2 on the front foot, New Zealand lost wickets at constant intervals in the opening session of Day 3. Rachin Ravindra led the charge scoring his latest ton before being shown the pavilion by Kuldeep Yadav on 134. Tim Southee gave him a good hand having amassed 65 off 73 to help New Zealand reach 402 before getting bowled out. This meant the visitors had a massive lead at the end of the first innings.