India’s remarkable recovery in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru saw them erasing the visitors’ mammoth 356-run first-innings lead with a batting performance that is in stark contrast to the hosts’ embarrassing 46 all-out in the first innings.
Sarfaraz Khan’s maiden Test century led the recovery that saw a determined batting performance from India’s top and middle order, which eventually helped Rohit Sharma & Co register second-highest recovery for the team in Tests played in India.
It’s the second most number of runs India have scored to erase a first-innings lead on home soil. The list is topped by 380 runs India scored in the Chennai Test against England in 1985 to neutralize their opponents’ advantage.
List for the lead (number of runs) covered by India in home Tests:
380 – vs England in Chennai, 1985
*356 – vs New Zealand in Bengaluru, 2024
334 – vs Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad, 2009
293 – vs England in Kanpur, 1964
274 – vs Australia in Kolkata, 2001
229 – vs West Indies in Delhi, 1959
List for the lead (number of runs) covered by India in overseas Tests:
386 – vs England in Leeds, 1967
368 – vs England in Manchester, 1936
340 – vs Pakistan in Lahore, 1978-79
314 – vs New Zealand in Napier, 2008-09
305 – vs England at Lord’s (London), 1982
302 – vs England at Lord’s (London), 1952
(Stats Courtesy: Rajesh Kumar)
India were 125 runs adrift when play started on the fourth morning at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, with Rishabh Pant coming out as the new batsman to partner Sarfaraz, after Virat Kohli (70) had fallen off the last ball of the day on Friday.
India ended day three at 231 for 3 after New Zealand had put up 402 on the board in their first innings — thanks to Rachin Ravindra’s century (134) and attacking half-centuries by opener Devon Conway (91) and Tim Southee (65).
For India, Rohit (52) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (35) put up an opening partnership of 72, before Virat and Sarfaraz joined hands for a 136-run stand.
Sarfaraz continued from where he left on Friday and played with an attacking intent right from the first ball on a fresh morning. Pant, who initially looked a bit iffy about his knee that took a blow while wicket-keeping and forced him to sit out the entire day three, slowly found his groove and reached his half-century.
Before India went past New Zealand’s lead, rain halted their recovery at 344 for 3 in 71 overs.
At the time this report was published, Sarfaraz was batting on 126 and Pant on 68.