New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra, who smashed a sparkling century in the first innings, said Virat Kohli’s wicket on the last ball of Day 3 was a huge boost for them. Virat Kohli, who was dismissed for a duck in the first innings by pacer Will O’Rourke, played a pivotal role in India’s fightback in the innings.
Virat Kohli The former India captain, who took the brave call of batting at No.3 as Shubman Gill was injured, did not shy away from taking up the challenge again in the second innings despite a failure in the first.
Virat Kohli’s stellar show in the second Indian innings
Virat Kohli walked out to the middle after Yashaswi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma gave India a solid start in complete contrast to a disastrous show in the first innings that saw them get bowled out for their lowest total (46) at home. Just like Rohit and Jaiswal, Virat Kohli looked at ease in the second innings.
Virat Kohli lost his partner Rohit, who was bowled in a freakish manner, but found an able ally in Sarfaraz Khan. Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz took the attack to New Zealand bowlers and got India back in the game. Just when it was looking like Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz would take India stumps without further loss, part-time spinner Glenn Phillips got one to straighten from the length and found the outside edge of Virat Kohli’s bat on the last ball of the day. A distraught Virat Kohli opted for a review but replays showed he had got a faint nick.
The 136-run partnership was broken as Kohli walked back for 70 but he ensured was India were in the game. In the process, he also reached 9000 Test runs.
Rachin Ravindra’s remarks on Virat Kohli’s last-ball dismissal on Day 3 in India vs New Zealand Test
New Zealand batter Rachin Ravindra admitted that Virat Kohli’s wicket on the last ball of play on Day 3 of the Bengaluru Test on Friday, October 18 was a very important one. He added that the Kiwis are hopeful of getting a few more scalps in the morning on Day 4 of the Test match.
India staged an excellent fightback with the bat on Day 3 of the first Test against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Having conceded a mammoth first-innings lead of 356, they went to Stumps at 231-3. The hosts, however, suffered a huge setback just before close of play as Kohli was dismissed by Glenn Phillips off the last ball of the day.
Kohli (70) and Sarfaraz Khan (70*) added 136 for the third wicket after openers Yashaswi Jaiswal (35) and Rohit Sharma (52) had featured in a stand of 72. Speaking after the end of Day 3, Ravindra shared his views on the significance of Kohli’s dismissal just before close of play. He said (as quoted by PTI):
“It’s pretty hard to crystal-ball gaze into the future. It’s a quality batting line-up on a wicket that’s not doing too much, so it’s important for us to hold our lines and lengths and do that for long periods. But I think Kohli’s wicket at the end was very important.
“Obviously, he’s a guy who has scored 9,000-plus Test runs, which is pretty mind-blowing, but for us it was a huge wicket. We know things happen quickly in this part of the world, so, hopefully, we can stick at it and get a few wickets in the morning,” Ravindra went on to add.
Rachin Ravindra reflects on special ton in Bengaluru
Before Team India’s batters put up an impressive show, Ravindra dominated with the bat for the Kiwis, scoring 134 off 157 balls, hitting 13 fours and four sixes. The southpaw had scored a ton in Bengaluru during the ODI World Cup last year too. He, however, admitted that hitting a hundred in the presence of his father, Ravi Krishnamoorthy, and other family members was special. He said:
“Obviously, having my dad in the crowd is massive. A lot of family who are watching the game, probably at the stadium and then at home on TV. I know they’re very, very proud and it makes me happy. I know dad and mum would be very, very proud of that.
“Me being able to play in their hometown where they grew up is pretty special. Like I always say, I’m fully Kiwi, 100% Kiwi, but it’s nice to have that Indian heritage base here in Bengaluru,” Ravindra added.
The 24-year-old added 137 runs for eighth wicket with Tim Southee (65) as New Zealand put up an impressive total of 402 in their first innings.