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The third day of the first Test between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru witnessed a remarkable display of resilience from Rachin Ravindra, who registered his second Test century and extended New Zealand's dominance in the match. His unbeaten 104 off 125 balls proved to be the perfect counter-punch to India's early strikes in the morning session, effectively deflating their hopes of limiting the first innings damage.
After a promising start with early wickets by Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, India seemed poised to put the brakes on New Zealand's run-flow. However, Ravindra Jadeja's twin strikes gave India a glimmer of hope, reducing New Zealand to 233/7 from a comfortable 193/3. This is when Ravindra stepped up, finding a reliable partner in Tim Southee, and the two stitched together an unbroken 112-run stand to blunt India's charge.
Ravindra's performance was particularly impressive, showcasing his adaptability against spin bowling. He expertly used his feet and the depth of the crease to great effect, taking on the challenge of facing Ravindra Jadeja with a mix of aggression and finesse. He smashed boundaries and sixes with ease, putting particular pressure on Ravichandran Ashwin, who seemed to lose his usual control and conceded 20 runs in the penultimate over of the session.
While Ravindra's century was the highlight of the day, India's inability to maintain their composure in the second half of the morning session played a significant role in New Zealand's resurgence. Their eagerness to wrap things up quickly led to inconsistency in their bowling, with Jadeja being the only spinner who posed a real threat to Ravindra. Despite their efforts, India failed to break the eighth-wicket stand, allowing New Zealand to further extend their lead.
Ravindra's exceptional performance, along with his stand with Southee, undid all the good work India had done in the first hour of the day. Siraj, after a poor start, had found his rhythm and dismissed Daryl Mitchell, while Bumrah, picking up the pace, removed Tom Blundell. Glenn Phillips and Matt Henry, looking to accelerate the scoring rate, fell prey to Jadeja's guile. At that point, India seemed poised to begin their second innings shortly. However, Ravindra and Southee not only prevented further damage but also effectively put India on the back foot.
With New Zealand's lead now swelled to a substantial 299 runs and the pitch expected to become more challenging in the next two days, India faces a daunting task to salvage the match. Ravindra's majestic ton has not only bolstered New Zealand's position but also highlighted the crucial role he played in dismantling India's fightback plans.
Source: Ravindra's majestic ton deflates India's fightback plans