Bengaluru Batting Brilliance: India Aims for Greatness Bengaluru Batting Brilliance: India Aims for Greatness
Bengaluru Batting Brilliance: India Aims for Greatness

October 20, 2024

Bengaluru Batting Brilliance: India Aims for Greatness

Only one team has ever won a Test match after scoring fewer than the 46 runs India made in their first innings, but they were daring to believe they could do it in Bengaluru. India is on to something special with their aggressive batting style. While New Zealand held a numerical advantage, India has recently pulled off some incredible victories, making a fourth-innings chase of even 100 runs a significant challenge.

After being bowled out for just 46 runs and facing a daunting deficit of 136 runs—later stretching to 356—India batted confidently, scoring over five runs per over until the last few overs. They finished their innings 125 runs behind, still with seven wickets in hand. New Zealand did manage to boost their position late in the day, thanks to Glenn Phillips, who managed to edge a ball from Virat Kohli just before the close of play.

When you get bowled out for 46, you need things to go your way, and India continued to fight even when faced with adversity. Their bowlers started well but were soon disrupted by the fastest century partnership against India on home soil. However, India’s batters remained positive, putting New Zealand under pressure on a now flat pitch. The New Zealand bowlers made frequent mistakes, allowing easy runs, and they dropped a catch.

Despite losing wickets, India kept their momentum going. After Yashasvi Jaiswal was stumped, Rohit Sharma quickly scored 16 runs off just eight balls. Rohit’s unusual dismissal brought Sarfaraz Khan to the crease, who raced to 23 runs off 16 balls. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli remained calm and even hit a six off Ajaz Patel, signaling his support for the aggressive approach. However, this strategy will be tested as a new batter joins Sarfaraz, who is unbeaten on 70, on the fourth morning.

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Rishabh Pant’s Fitness Key as New Zealand Fight Back

Much will depend on Rishabh Pant’s ability to move freely after missing one-and-a-half days of play due to a knee injury sustained in a road accident. The positive news for India is that he was padded up alongside KL Rahul and even removed his pads without needing to bat on day three.

In contrast, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj got India off to a strong start on the morning of day three, each claiming a wicket in their five-over spells. However, Glenn Phillips and Matt Henry’s aggressive approach didn’t yield much confidence or runs, as the first four wickets fell for just 53 runs, leaving India facing a long tail.

Rachin Ravindra, visiting the city where his father was born, had other plans. He and Tim Southee formed a formidable partnership, adding 137 runs in just over 20 overs—the second-fastest century stand against India. Ravindra showed trust in Southee, facing only the first three balls of the first 19 in their stand, which encouraged Southee to take on more responsibility as a six-hitter.

Starting the day on 22 runs, Ravindra quickly hit a boundary off his first ball, a loose delivery from Siraj. He batted with urgency and respect, scoring 101 runs against spin, as Bumrah and Siraj rarely offered him loose deliveries. The first signs of aggressive shot-making appeared 11 overs before the new ball became available when Ravindra charged at Kuldeep Yadav and lofted him over his head to reach his fifty. He then hit a shot over midwicket to push the score past 200. In the same over, Southee capitalized on a half-volley, lofting it for his first boundary.

India’s Aggressive Comeback Ignites Run Scoring

Just like that, the floodgates had opened. India, initially waiting for the new ball, ended up delaying its arrival as it became available just before lunch, allowing them a chance to regroup. In the 12 overs leading up to the break, New Zealand scored 102 runs. Ravindra surged from 48 runs off 86 balls to 104 off 125, while Southee hit three sixes, surpassing Virender Sehwag’s total of 91. R. Ashwin was taken apart as he bowled too many overpitched deliveries, finishing with figures of 16 overs for 94 runs and only one wicket from a reverse sweep.

After lunch, the new ball continued to pass the bat, but New Zealand crossed the 400-run mark. India responded with an aggressive batting approach that suited the flatter pitch. Jaiswal needed some luck with the new ball but confidently charged down the wicket to drill Matt Henry through mid-off for four. With the ball not seaming, Henry overcompensated by bowling too full, allowing Rohit to gain early momentum. The run rate climbed steadily, but India embraced the risks that came with their attacking style. There were gasps when Jaiswal ran at Ajaz and was stumped off a delivery that didn’t turn, but the team remained committed to their aggressive strategy, which had already yielded 72 runs.

Rohit’s immediate attack on Henry contrasted sharply with Kohli, who took 15 balls to get off the mark. Rohit showcased his intent with a drive for four, followed by a pull for six, then another pull for four, bringing up his fifty in just 59 balls.

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Unexpected Wicket Opens Door for Flourishing Partnership

And then a wicket unexpectedly fell. Rohit defended against Ajaz with a dead bat, but the ball hit the inner edge of the bat, top-spinning onto the wicket after bouncing behind the crease. Rohit seemed unaware of the ball’s position, raising questions about his awareness, although it’s uncertain if he had enough time to react.

A delightful partnership of 136 runs followed. Sarfaraz played with flair, handling the ball late or early, and tackled spin with confident sweeps while directing pace almost exclusively behind the wicket. At one point, he ducked a delivery from William O’Rourke that nipped back at him, cleverly ramping it over the wicketkeeper just because he could. Kohli took a more conventional approach, skipping down the pitch to loft Ajaz over long-off.

Runs flowed as the bowlers made mistakes. Kohli negotiated a spell of reverse swing from Henry, while Ajaz dropped a catch off Phillips at slip, an unusual decision since Phillips is primarily a wicketkeeper who has adapted to being a utility off-spinner in international cricket. He seems to put more body into his deliveries than fingers, but he continues to use angles effectively. In the final ball of the day, Phillips managed to get less turn than expected and took a faint edge, giving New Zealand a vital lift.

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author
Katarzyna Nowak

Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for The Wicket Insider, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.