Home
On the third day of the first Test, Bengaluru's "local lad," Rachin Ravindra, resumed his romance with M Chinnaswamy Stadium by scoring his first century against India. In the Test format, this was the first century by a batter from New Zealand in twelve years on Indian soil. The Bengaluru-origin batter from Wellington appeared "at home" as he scored his second hundred in Tests. Tim Southee and Ravindra joined a massive and crucial partnership for New Zealand that took their lead to 356. With the relentless attack from New Zealand, India gave up their largest first-inning lead at home since 2013.
With his 113-run innings, Ross Taylor was the last batter from New Zealand to reach a century in a Test match in India, and that Test was also held in Bengaluru. Rachin faced off against players like Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin and produced some amazing shots. He appeared to be in good control of his shots, hit the three-figure mark with a boundary, removed his helmet to take in the cheers from the crowd.
It was, after all, particularly noteworthy because it occurred in front of his family and in the place of his origins. He entered at a point where he had to advance his side and then gave them total command. He had excellent footwork right away. Being the 18th Kiwi player to score a century in India, he took advantage of the depth of the crease and middled most of his shots to record an outstanding hundred.
But Rachin had already made a century at M Chinnaswamy Stadium once before. He hit a brilliant century against Pakistan in the ODI World Cup 2023 and has great recollections of playing at the stadium. Rachin made sure to make the occasion matter once again after hitting a Test ton after smashing an ODI hundred.
The visitors have now taken a massive 356-run lead and will eye to restrict the Indian team under it so they can win this match by an innings. India on the other hand, have the target of not only taking down this lead but posting something near 500 on the scoreboard, so they can get themselves as chance to make a comeback in this match.
