Sarfraz & Pant's heroics keeps India somewhat in the fight as New Zealand need 107 to win on 5th day of 1st test

 Sarfraz Khan and Rishabh Pant put together a 177-run partnership, with Sarfraz scoring a brilliant 150. Delhi's wicketkeeper-batter, Pant, missed out on a century by just one run. The two youngsters’ determined fight on the 22-yard pitch at the Chinnaswamy Stadium could be seen as a revival for Test cricket. Whether Rohit Sharma’s team can secure victory in the first Test against New Zealand remains to be seen, but in the first 25 overs, when the match seemed to be losing momentum, it was Sarfraz and Pant who revived the contest.

After being bowled out for 46 in the first innings and trailing by 356 runs, Rohit’s team gave New Zealand a target of 107, showing they were not ready to give up without a fight. Most teams might crumble under such pressure, but India’s approach was different. They fought to keep the opposition under pressure till the last moment. Despite immense pressure, they stood strong and refused to let the opposition relax. Rohit led from the front with a 52-run knock, while Virat Kohli showed signs of returning to form with a gritty 70. Sarfraz, though not a regular in the playing eleven, played a crucial 150-run innings. Pant’s courageous 99, despite his knee injury and recent surgery, placed the opposition under additional pressure. Much better  contributions from Lokesh Rahul (12), Ravindra Jadeja (5), and Ravichandran Ashwin (15) could have made things more difficult for the visitors if they had spent more time at the crease.

While batting, Sarfraz and Pant didn’t appear to be merely trying to save the match. They played with confidence, displaying fluent and aggressive cricket. Both players launched a fierce assault on the Kiwi bowling with a mixture of orthodox & unorthodix shots that kept the crowd on their feet on a rousing day of test cricket . Pant’s powerful sweep that sent Tim Southee’s delivery to the stadium roof left both Rahul and the New Zealand players in awe. This was the same Pant who, due to his knee injury, was struggling to keep wickets! Pant fell short of a well-deserved century, scoring 99 off 105 balls with 9 fours and 5 sixes, showcasing a mindset focused on tactically dismantling the opposition. Part missing a 100 was a big heartbreak for the fans & his teammates alike . Sarfraz’s 150 off 195 balls, adorned with 18 fours and 3 sixes, demonstrated his readiness to step up in the post-Rohit, post-Kohli era of Indian batting. Though an irregular member of the starting eleven, his consistency was evident. Once considered a doubtful selection by national selectors, the 26-year-old batted with clarity and ease, even under immense pressure. New Zealand’s most successful bowler, William O’Rourke, took 3 wickets for 92 runs, while Matt Henry claimed 3 wickets for 102, but they both seemed helpless in front of the Sarfraz-Pant partnership.

However KL Rahul once again flattered to deceive and yet again failed in an important moment of the game . After such a heroic partnership by the young brigade  it was expected that both the seasoned players  Rahul & Jadeja will carry on the good work by calming down the situation & extending India's innings . However they again failed miserably . 

After India’s second innings ended at 462, New Zealand needed 107 runs to win on the final day. India, on the other hand, needed 10 wickets to secure victory on Sunday. After four balls in New Zealand’s second innings, play was halted due to poor light, followed by rain, forcing the umpires to call off the day’s play. The decision to stop play did not sit well with the Indian camp, with Rohit and Kohli expressing dissatisfaction and engaging in a brief argument with the umpires, but the rain ultimately put an end to the tension. Will the ever-changing Test match be disrupted by rain in the end? Both teams now have their eyes on the weather.

If the conditions allow, it will be up to Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav to capitalize on the fifth-day pitch in Bengaluru and make Sarfraz and Pant’s hard-fought battle count.