On the fourth day of the 1st Test between India and New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, rain interrupted play just four balls into New Zealand’s chase of 107. Tom Latham survived a close lbw appeal from Jasprit Bumrah, with India wasting a review. As the skies darkened, the umpires paused play due to bad light, leading to India’s frustration and a brief discussion. Rain then intensified, forcing early stumps.
Earlier, India posted 462, thanks to Sarfaraz Khan’s maiden Test century (150) and Rishabh Pant’s aggressive 99. India collapsed after reaching 408/3, losing seven wickets for 54 runs, as William O’Rourke and Matt Henry claimed three wickets each. New Zealand, needing 107 for victory, will hope for clear skies on Day 5 to secure their first Test win in India since 1988. India, on the other hand, will rely on their bowlers to defend a small target on a rain-hit day.
Day four of the 1st Test between India and New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru took a dramatic turn before rain intervened and brought an early halt to play. New Zealand, chasing 107 for victory, had only faced four deliveries when bad light and rain forced the players off the field, leaving the contest hanging in the balance. The visitors, who are seeking their first Test win in India since 1988, will hope for clear skies and uninterrupted play on Day Five to complete what could be a historic victory.
New Zealand captain Tom Latham was at the crease, having faced four deliveries from Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah. One of those balls resulted in a vociferous lbw appeal from Bumrah, but the inswinger had pitched outside leg stump, and replays confirmed that India’s decision to review was ill-advised, burning one of their valuable reviews. Latham survived the brief spell, but the darkening skies soon became a concern. The on-field umpires consulted the light meter and deemed the conditions unfit for play, much to India’s displeasure. Indian players, notably captain Rohit Sharma, engaged in a discussion with the umpires, contesting the decision to leave the field.
As the umpires left the ground, the rain soon followed, starting lightly before growing heavier, prompting the ground staff to cover the pitch and the entire playing area. With rain persisting, early stumps were called, leaving New Zealand with 107 runs still to chase and India hopeful for a miracle on the final day.
The day’s play had begun with India at 408/3, seemingly in control and looking to set a daunting target for New Zealand. Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant had been the stars of India’s innings, with Sarfaraz recording a magnificent maiden Test century, scoring 150 in a knock filled with audacious strokes, particularly square through the off-side. Pant, despite struggling with a knee injury sustained on the second day while wicketkeeping, delivered an exhilarating counter-attack, scoring 99 in his typical aggressive fashion.
Resuming on 70, Sarfaraz wasted no time in continuing his aggressive approach. He welcomed New Zealand’s bowlers with a series of cuts and slices through the off-side, taking advantage of anything short or wide. His dominant hundred came in thrilling style as he punched a delivery from Tim Southee off the back foot, sending it racing past the infield for four. His celebration was emotional and triumphant, raising his bat and helmet aloft as the crowd gave him a standing ovation. Pant, his partner, rushed over to embrace him in a bear hug, celebrating what had been a superb knock under pressure.
Pant, who had been patient early in his innings, began to shift gears after Sarfaraz reached his century. He launched into Tim Southee, hitting a six and a four off consecutive deliveries. His footwork against spin was also impressive, dispatching Ajaz Patel for two towering sixes. At one point, Pant overturned an lbw decision against him after replays showed a significant inside edge. New Zealand wasted a review on the very next ball when Pant made contact with the bat on a skiddy delivery, highlighting the frustration for the Kiwis as India’s lead continued to grow.
However, after Pant’s quickfire fifty off just 55 balls, rain interrupted proceedings for an early lunch. When play resumed, Pant resumed his attack on the New Zealand bowlers, reverse-sweeping and flat-batting his way to several boundaries. Sarfaraz also continued to find the boundary, ramping O’Rourke for four before a single took him to 150, a significant milestone in his young Test career.
But just as India seemed poised to push New Zealand out of the contest, Sarfaraz fell to Tim Southee while attempting a lofted cover drive. The extra bounce on the delivery caught him by surprise, and the ball looped up to cover, bringing an end to his wonderful innings, which was punctuated by 18 fours and three sixes. Pant, meanwhile, stunned the crowd by slog-sweeping Southee for a massive 107-meter six that cleared the roof at square leg. The spectators, hoping for Pant to reach his century, were left disappointed when Pant misjudged the bounce of a delivery from O’Rourke, which rattled his leg-stump, dismissing him for 99.
After Pant’s dismissal, India’s innings quickly unraveled. O’Rourke struck again just before tea when KL Rahul edged a short-of-length delivery behind to the wicketkeeper. In the final session, India’s lower order crumbled as Ravindra Jadeja mistimed a pull shot and was caught at mid-wicket, while Henry trapped Ravichandran Ashwin lbw and had Bumrah caught behind. Mohammed Siraj’s brief stay at the crease ended when he hit a straightforward catch to mid-on, concluding India’s innings at 462 all out in 99.3 overs. From a position of strength at 408/3, India had collapsed, losing their last seven wickets for just 54 runs.
For New Zealand, the second new ball had made all the difference. William O’Rourke and Matt Henry were the chief destroyers, each picking up three wickets as they exploited the conditions and India’s vulnerability with the new ball. O’Rourke, in particular, impressed with his ability to generate extra bounce and seam movement, while Henry was accurate and persistent, targeting the stumps and getting rewards for his disciplined lines.
With a lead of 106 runs, India’s bowlers had little margin for error as they began their defense. Jasprit Bumrah bowled the first over of New Zealand’s chase, and although he tested Latham with an inswinger that led to the ill-fated review, the rain and bad light meant that the visitors would have to wait until Day Five to continue their pursuit of a modest target.
As the rain fell and stumps were called, the match remained delicately poised. New Zealand will be hopeful of returning on the final day to knock off the remaining 107 runs and secure a rare Test victory in India, a feat they haven’t achieved since 1988. India, on the other hand, will need their bowlers, particularly Bumrah, to exploit any early-morning conditions and produce something special if they are to defend the small target and keep their hopes alive in this Test match. The weather may yet play a decisive role, but both teams will be eager to take the field on what promises to be a thrilling final day of Test cricket.