Sarfaraz Khan and Virat Kohli chat during their third day partnership (Photo Source: X)

BENGALURU: The swagger with which India’s top batters went about their business against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Friday was very different from a team looking to save a Test. After all, they had just conceded a first innings deficit of 356 runs.
For a team that had fallen to a humiliating 46 in the first innings, there seemed to be no trace of concern when Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal came out to bat towards the end of the second session. The intention was clear: play a fearless brand. In cricket, result be damned.

That is perhaps what sets Rohit & Co apart. Fear of failure is not in the team’s soul.
It helped that the wicket had slackened and the visitors’ pacers, who had wreaked havoc the previous day, were not getting as much hold or seam movement as they had in the first innings. The field was also way behind the team that had literally grabbed catches out of nowhere in the first innings.

When the stumps were drawn, India were 231/3 in 49 overs, still trailing by 125 runs, but the game appeared to be in balance. India would have been better off had Virat Kohli (70; 102b; 8×4; 1×6) not been dismissed on the last ball of the day. He looked good for a bigger partnership with Sarfaraz Khan (70; 78b; 7×3; 3×6).
Still, it was a good day for the spectators. They had been cheering for “Homeboy.” Rachin Ravindra (134; 157b; 13×4; 4×6), who celebrated his second international century at this venue and helped the visitors to a very competitive first innings total of 402.

Then when the Indians came out to bat, it was as close to a highlight reel as you could get in this format.
Typically, Rohit started the attack by pushing Matt Henry through the middle. Another hit against the fence followed in the fourth over. Rohit (52; 63b, 8×4; 1×6) and Jaiswal (35) ensured India got off to a bright start. The fact that their association ended with 72 participants was due in large part to the left-hander’s attempt to increase the pace even further.
Jaiswal was dismissed by Ajaz Patel (2/70), completely misjudged, and wicketkeeper Tom Blundell did the rest. Not long after, Rohit was caught off guard by an Ajaz forward, who straightened up a little to sneak towards the stumps.

Unlike Thursday, there were no infamous records. Instead, Virat Kohli became the fourth Indian after Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar to score 9,000 runs in the format. Kohli and Sarfaraz made the final session a visual treat until Glenn Philips delivered a body strike that gave Kohli the lead. A review only confirmed Kohli’s departure.
India have batting depth but will need meaningful innings from the likes of Sarfaraz, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant (if he is fit) to achieve an unlikely result.
Earlier, New Zealand had started the day at 180/3 with a 134-run lead and their desperation for wickets was clear as Rohit pushed his bowlers around.

Mohammed Siraj (2/84) secured the breakthrough in the 13th over, setting up Daryl Mitchell to give Jaiswal a strong advantage at the gully. The wickets of Phillips and Henry were cleaned up in quick succession by Ravindra Jadeja (3/72).
With the Black Caps at 233/7, India pushed hard to complete their innings but faced the feisty Ravindra, who found the perfect match in Tim Southee (65; 73b; 5×4; 4×6).

The duo thwarted the Indian attack, finding gaps easily and particularly liking R Ashwin (1/94) and Kuldeep Yadav (3/99). At some point the two crossed at a speed of over six in the morning.
On the way, Southee hit his 93rd six, surpassing Virender Sehwag.