Ganesh Kendale
NEW DELHI: Sarfaraz Khan’s first century in Test cricket and Rishabh Pant’s magnificent 99 may not be enough to stop New Zealand from securing their first Test victory on Indian soil in 36 years, with only 107 runs needed on the final day of a captivating series opener.
As bad light and subsequent rain forced an early end to the fourth evening, Tom Latham (0) and Devon Conway (0) remained at the crease.
The last time New Zealand emerged victorious in a Test match in India was in 1988, when Sir Richard Hadlee claimed 10 wickets at the Wankhede Stadium, ensuring a resounding 136-run triumph.Latham’s team is on the verge of making history, despite a valiant comeback by India, who scored 462 in their second innings.
This was largely due to Sarfaraz’s penchant for scoring big hundreds, which he carried from first-class to Test cricket with a brilliant 150 off 195 balls, and a partnership of 177 with a partially fit Rishabh Pant, who fell short of his seventh Test century by just one run.
India’s resilience in Test cricket has been exemplified by remarkable second-innings performances, resulting in some of the most significant improvements in team scores between the first and second innings.
The highest such improvement occurred during the iconic 2001 Kolkata Test against Australia, where India improved by 486 runs, going from 171 all out to declaring at 657/7.
In 1999, India witnessed a 422-run improvement against New Zealand in Mohali, from 83 to 505/3 declared.
In a recent 2024 Bengaluru Test against New Zealand, India bounced back from a dismal 46 in the first innings to score 462, an improvement of 416 runs.
A 375-run improvement took place in 1965 at Brabourne Stadium, where India posted 88 and then 463/5 declared, also against New Zealand.
Finally, in Headingley, 1967, India turned the tables against England, improving by 346 runs, going from 164 to 510 in the second innings.
