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Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar reckons that New Zealand should be worried after India's strong comeback on Day 3 of the first Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday, October 18. Recalling India's triumph in the T20 World Cup final, he stated that the team has a knack making strong comebacks.
Having bundled out India for 46 on Day 2 of the Bengaluru Test, New Zealand resumed their second innings at 180-3. They posted 402 and ended up gaining a huge first-innings lead of 356 courtesy of Rachin Ravindra (134) and Tim Southee (65). India, though, reached 231-3 by stumps in their second innings, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan all contributing half-centuries.
Sharing his thoughts on the state of play after Day 3 in Bengaluru, Manjrekar took to his official X handle and opined that the visitors should be a bit concerned with the manner of India's fightback. He wrote:
"If I were NZ, I would be slightly worried with India’s strong reply. This Indian team has a great knack of coming back. Only recently SA needed 30 off 30 balls in the WT20 finals, remember that comeback? #INDvNZ."
After New Zealand's first innings ended on 402, India's openers started strongly in the second innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal (35) and skipper Rohit (52) featured in a first-wicket partnership of 72. After both openers were dismissed by New Zealand's left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, Kohli (70) and Sarfaraz (70*) added 136 for third wicket. Kohli was dismissed by Glenn Phillips on the last ball of the day.
Speaking of India's fightback in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, the Men in Blue seemed down and out with the Proteas needing a run-a-ball in the last five overs of the chase. However, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah led a brilliant fightback with the ball, while Suryakumar Yadav pulled off an incredible catch near the ropes in the last over of the final in Barbados.
India need to build on their good work on Day 4 of the 1st Test against New Zealand
While India made a strong comeback on Day 3 of the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand, they are not out of the woods yet. At stumps on Friday, the hosts were still trailing the Kiwis by 125 runs, with seven wickets in hand.
India will be hoping that Sarfaraz can convert his unbeaten 70 into a big hundred. The likes of KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin will also be expected to chip in.
