In a dramatic and fearless display of attacking cricket, India has ignited hopes of an unthinkable comeback on the third day of the second Test against New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. After a catastrophic collapse in the first innings, which saw them bowled out for just 46, India have rallied aggressively, ending the day on 231 for 3, trailing New Zealand’s total of 402 by 125 runs with seven wickets still in hand.
New Zealand’s innings, led by Rachin Ravindra’s explosive 134 and Tim Southee’s surprising 65, had given them a substantial lead of 356 after India’s disastrous first innings. However, India’s top order, refusing to be weighed down by the past, took an audacious approach with the bat, scoring at a brisk pace, and giving themselves a glimmer of hope for an unlikely fourth-innings chase.
India’s response was built on the back of Virat Kohli’s 70 and a blazing 70 from Sarfaraz Khan as well. The pair took the attack to the New Zealand bowlers from the outset. The duo provided a vital 136-run partnership, with Kohli showing his trademark poise while Sarfaraz played a more aggressive role, collecting runs at a rapid rate. Sarfaraz Khan, still unbeaten on 70 at the end of the day, has been the cornerstone of India’s resurgence, playing with audacity and flair.
Early Day Struggles, Late Flourishes from New Zealand
The day began with India still licking their wounds from a punishing first innings, but their bowlers showed a fight. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj delivered early breakthroughs, dismissing New Zealand’s first two wickets in their five-over spells. But a rapid 137-run partnership between Ravindra and Southee, the second-fastest century stand against India in India, saw the visitors surge past 400. Ravindra’s innings was a masterclass in balance, mixing urgency with respect for India’s bowlers. He scored 101 of his runs against spin, taking a particular liking to Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, as India’s bowlers struggled to control the flow of runs.
Despite an early spell of pressure, New Zealand’s late surge, led by Southee’s power hitting, pushed them to 402, leaving India a mountain to climb in the second innings.
India’s Positive Response
With nothing to lose, India came out all guns blazing. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma began the chase with urgency, attacking New Zealand’s bowlers with aggressive intent. Jaiswal, in particular, was on the front foot, taking calculated risks, although he was stumped off Ajaz Patel after an ambitious charge down the wicket. Rohit, however, continued to keep the scoreboard ticking, racing to a fifty in just 59 balls with a combination of powerful drives and pulls.
Kohli, the ever-reliable anchor, played a more measured role, taking his time to settle in but then accelerated the scoring with trademark elegance. His partnership with Sarfaraz was particularly dynamic, as the two attacked both spin and pace with aplomb. Kohli lofted Patel over long-off for a six, while Sarfaraz, in his typical cheeky style, played the ball late and audaciously, finding gaps in the field and making a mockery of New Zealand’s bowling plans.
However, New Zealand were not without their moments. They found a breakthrough late in the day when Glenn Phillips managed to find the edge of Kohli’s bat with the last delivery of the day, dismissing the Indian star for 70.
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The Road Ahead
India’s aggressive approach is a testament to their newfound mindset of fearless cricket, as they aim to reduce New Zealand’s lead with one more day of batting left. Sarfaraz Khan, unbeaten on 70, and the remaining Indian batters will look to continue the charge and make the chase a reality. India has proven in recent times that they can pull off stunning comebacks, and this match has the potential for yet another remarkable turn of events.
With seven wickets in hand and over 100 runs to go, New Zealand still holds the advantage, but the momentum is slowly swinging towards India as they push for an improbable victory. The pitch is flat, and with a positive mindset, India could yet take this match deep into the fourth innings and mount a serious challenge.
As the game heads into Day 4, the contest remains finely poised, with everything to play for.