After an abysmal batting display in the first innings, which resulted in the lowest-ever Test total by any team in Asia, India found a glimmer of hope with a steady start in their second innings of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, reports Live Cricket Score.
With just over an hour left before the tea break, Rohit Sharma (27*) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (29*) formed an unbroken 57-run partnership, setting the tone for India’s response after New Zealand established a massive first innings lead of 356.
Basking in the sunlight and aided by a pitch that had eased up, both batters exhibited composure, avoiding any major moments of panic during this phase. After a cautious start, Rohit began to open his shoulders with some elegant drives and crisp flicks, keeping the scoreboard ticking. Jaiswal, while appearing a bit streaky early on, gradually found his rhythm, and the scoring rate of nearly four runs per over prevented India from getting bogged down—a crucial factor given the daunting deficit.
Although batting conditions had improved, signs of uneven bounce lingered, with the potential for the pitch to deteriorate further over the next couple of days. Spin is likely to play a significant role, but for now, the surface has been relatively benign.
Rachin Ravindra showcased a masterclass in batting after lunch, contributing valuable runs for New Zealand as their lead surged past the 350-run mark. Tim Southee also chipped in a half-century before falling shortly after reaching the milestone, leaving Ravindra with the last two wickets for support.
From that point, Ravindra shifted into full T20 mode, taking full advantage of the situation to unleash a barrage of powerful strokes. India missed a key LBW review off Kuldeep Yadav when Ravindra was on 110, allowing him to add another 24 runs, further inflicting damage. He was ultimately dismissed by the wrist spinner, but not before leaving a significant mark.
With a daunting deficit of 299 runs and seven remaining sessions in the match, India faces a tough challenge. The upcoming session is crucial for the home side if they hope to enter the fourth day with a viable chance of salvaging the game.
Brief scores: India 46 and 57/0 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 29*, Rohit Sharma 27*) trail New Zealand 402 (Rachin Ravindra 134, Devon Conway 91; Ravindra Jadeja 3-72) by 299 runs.
