On the fifth day of the Test series at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, New Zealand dealt a significant blow to India.
On October 20, in the first Test match held at Chinnaswamy Stadium, New Zealand defeated India by 8 wickets. India had scored 462 runs in their first innings, bolstered by a remarkable partnership between Sarfaraz Khan (150) and Rishabh Pant (99), which took the team to a respectable total.
Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional bowling within the first 10 runs had tilted the game in India’s favor. However, the tide turned quickly due to a poor performance from India’s captain, Virat Kohli, causing the team to lose a winnable match.
Rachin Ravindra’s Outstanding Century
For New Zealand, Rachin Ravindra played a crucial role by scoring a century, solidifying his team’s position. He played with skill and composure, applying pressure on the Indian bowlers. In the second innings, New Zealand chased down the target of over 100 runs without much difficulty. New Zealand’s bowler, Will O’Rourke, dismantled India’s batting lineup, leading to their collapse.
The Partnership of Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant
The backbone of India’s innings was the 177-run partnership between Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant. The pair supported the team when early wickets had caused a shaky start. Sarfaraz displayed a blend of patience and aggression in his innings of 150, while Pant’s attacking approach added 99 runs, putting pressure on the opposing bowlers. Although Pant missed out on a century, the partnership was instrumental in India reaching a decent score of 462.
The Significance of Ravindra’s Performance
Rachin Ravindra delivered one of the best performances of his career, scoring a composed century that gave Indian bowlers no opportunity for a comeback. He handled the bowlers with caution and accelerated the scoring rate when needed, ensuring an easy victory for New Zealand. His century put the match entirely under New Zealand’s control and ended India’s hopes of winning.
Reasons for India’s Defeat
The primary reason for India’s defeat was the collapse of their batting lineup in the second innings. Early breakthroughs by Will O’Rourke and other New Zealand bowlers put India under pressure, leading to a series of quick wickets. Consequently, India failed to post a strong total and ultimately suffered a humiliating 8-wicket loss.
The defeat clearly indicates that the Indian team needs to improve its performance, particularly in handling pressure during crucial moments and forming long partnerships.
