IND vs NZ test: India’s remarkable comeback after being bowled out for just 46 continued with great intensity, as Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant put together an unbroken 113-run partnership in the 22 overs before lunch. India found themselves only 12 runs behind New Zealand, with seven wickets still in hand and the exciting prospect of bowling last against a team under pressure.
Sarfaraz displayed finesse as he notched up his maiden Test century with a stylish late cut, while Pant, returning from a severe injury and a life-threatening accident, played fluently to reach an unbeaten half-century. Together, the pair posed a significant threat to New Zealand captain Tom Latham.
Their aggressive intent and disregard for field placements kept the opposition on the back foot, with New Zealand’s bowlers, including the highly anticipated Ajaz Patel, struggling to gain control. Patel was particularly disappointing, generating less spin than part-timer Rachin Ravindra, who bowled just a single over before rain intervened, cutting the session short.
India’s approach to the challenge on day three had been to counterattack immediately after losing early wickets. Although they lost Virat Kohli on the last ball of the previous day, Sarfaraz wasted no time in asserting himself, playing a ramp shot off Will O’Rourke’s first delivery of the day. Even with the field set deeper, Sarfaraz managed to pierce the gaps between fielders.
New Zealand’s seamers appeared focused on trapping Sarfaraz leg-before-wicket, but this strategy only resulted in easy singles for him. When the wicketkeeper moved up to the stumps, Pant edged a ball, but the lifeless pitch meant it didn’t carry. In the eighth over, Sarfaraz punched a delivery from Southee to deep cover, a shot that would usually have been just a single, but his earlier aggressive cuts had already pushed the fielders back. That shot brought up his emotional century.
Meanwhile, Pant was finding his rhythm. Despite Ajaz managing to get a delivery to bounce sharply at Pant, he absorbed the impact well, and then unleashed a powerful straight six off Southee from inside his crease. In a dramatic over from Ajaz, Pant smashed two sixes to surpass Kapil Dev’s record of 61 sixes in Test cricket.
Only five Indian men now stand ahead of him. Pant was fortunate to survive in the same over, as an inside edge saved him from an lbw decision, while his back pad prevented a catch from an outside edge. He continued his assault, hitting another four, bringing India’s boundary count to 47—remarkably, more than the runs they had managed in their entire first innings.
Aside from Southee, Glenn Phillips was the only New Zealand bowler to offer some control, but even he gifted Pant a full toss, allowing the batter to reach his half-century. New Zealand managed to force only 25 mistakes in those 22 overs—an insufficient number given India’s aggressive approach. By this stage, the fielders were positioned too defensively to capitalize on the chances created, and the few edges that were produced did not carry to the slip cordon.
New Zealand’s only real chance of breaking the partnership came through a run-out opportunity at Pant’s end, but wicketkeeper Tom Blundell squandered the chance. He left his base to collect a wide throw, seemingly unaware that Pant was in danger of being run out. At that point, Pant had scored only six.
Rain eventually provided New Zealand some respite, arriving half an hour before the scheduled lunch break. Lunch was then taken early at 11:20 AM, just ten minutes ahead of schedule.
