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The third day of the first Test match between India and New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru witnessed a dramatic conclusion as star batsman Virat Kohli was dismissed on the very last ball of play. Despite a valiant effort and reaching 70 runs, Kohli's innings was abruptly cut short by Glenn Phillips, leaving the Indian team trailing their opponents by 125 runs with two crucial days of play remaining.
Kohli's dismissal came after he had achieved a remarkable feat – his 31st Test century. This milestone was followed by a personal accomplishment as he crossed the 9,000-run mark in Test cricket, showcasing his consistent brilliance at the highest level. Earlier, he had formed a formidable partnership with Sarfaraz Khan, who was also unbeaten on 70 runs at the end of Day 3.
The partnership between Kohli and Khan was instrumental in India's pursuit of New Zealand's first innings score of 402. They added 136 runs for the third wicket, demonstrating their skill and determination in countering the New Zealand bowling attack. However, the untimely dismissal of Kohli, just as the day was about to end, brought an end to their promising partnership and left India in a precarious position.