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The first Test match between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru witnessed a remarkable performance from Indian batsman Sarfaraz Khan, who achieved his maiden Test century on the fourth day of the match. This milestone was achieved in partnership with the experienced Rishabh Pant, who narrowly missed a century himself. Their aggressive approach and strong partnership laid the foundation for India's impressive second innings total, setting up a challenging target for the New Zealand team.
The duo's strategy stemmed from their prior experience playing together in the Duleep Trophy at the same venue. Recognizing the need to counter-attack and put pressure on the opposition, they decided to adopt a more aggressive approach in their batting. Sarfaraz, in his post-match press conference, highlighted this strategy, stating, "We both play attacking cricket... We had to score runs and then give them the fight. So we were discussing that the Duleep Trophy days are back, so let's do it again, and then we went on to play attacking cricket."
Their aggressive partnership played a vital role in India's recovery after losing Virat Kohli towards the end of the third day. Sarfaraz, who ended up scoring 150 runs, and Pant, who scored 99 runs, combined to put on a 177-run stand. Their efforts helped India reach a commanding total of 462 runs in their second innings, setting a target of 107 runs for New Zealand. While India experienced a late collapse after tea, the solid foundation laid by Sarfaraz and Pant ensured a competitive score.
As the match heads into the final day, New Zealand face a daunting task of chasing down the target of 107 runs. India will be looking to defend their score and secure a win in the first Test. The final day promises to be an exciting conclusion, with both teams battling it out to claim victory.
Source: 'We were discussing that ... ': Sarfaraz Khan reveals conversation with Rishabh Pant