New Zealand Triumphs Over India in Bengaluru Test
New Zealand achieved a significant victory over India in the first Test match held in Bengaluru, impacting the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 standings. The Black Caps chased down a target of 107 runs, moving from sixth to fourth place with a win-loss percentage of 44.44%. India remains at the top, but their lead has weakened with a percentage drop to 68.06%.
Standings and Future Matches
Australia and Sri Lanka are close contenders, with Australia in second place at 62.50% and Sri Lanka at 55.56%. New Zealand’s win puts them back in contention for a second WTC final appearance. They will host England for three Tests in November and December, which could further influence their standings.
Match Highlights
In the match, Jasprit Bumrah took two wickets for India, but Will Young and Rachin Ravindra led New Zealand to victory. India initially took a 106-run lead, scoring 462/10 in their second innings. Key performances included Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma’s opening stand, and Sarfaraz Khan’s partnerships with Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant.
However, India’s middle order collapsed, losing seven wickets for 54 runs. William O’Rourke and Matt Henry capitalized on the new ball, while Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, and Tim Southee also contributed with wickets.
First Innings Recap
New Zealand scored 402 in their first innings, with Rachin Ravindra’s century and Tim Southee’s quick 65 boosting their total. Devon Conway also added valuable runs. For India, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets each, while Mohammed Siraj and Ravichandran Ashwin supported with additional wickets.
India’s first innings was challenging, as they were bowled out for 46 runs. Matt Henry and William O’Rourke dominated with the ball, leaving only Jaiswal and Pant to reach double figures.
Brief Scores
| India | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| 46 and 462 | 402 and 110/2 |
| Sarfaraz Khan 150, Rishabh Pant 99 | Will Young 48*, Rachin Ravindra 39* |
| William O’Rourke 3/92 | Jasprit Bumrah 2/29 |
Doubts Revealed
New Zealand -: New Zealand is a country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It is known for its beautiful landscapes and is famous for its rugby and cricket teams.
Bengaluru Test -: The Bengaluru Test refers to a cricket match played in the city of Bengaluru, India. Test matches are a format of cricket that can last up to five days.
World Test Championship -: The ICC World Test Championship is a tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to determine the best Test cricket team in the world. Teams earn points based on their performance in Test matches.
Rachin Ravindra -: Rachin Ravindra is a cricketer from New Zealand. He is known for his skills as a batsman and bowler, and he played an important role in New Zealand’s victory by scoring a century.
Sarfaraz Khan -: Sarfaraz Khan is an Indian cricketer known for his batting abilities. In this match, he formed important partnerships, which means he worked well with other players to score runs.
Middle order collapsed -: In cricket, the ‘middle order’ refers to the batsmen who bat after the top three or four players. A ‘collapse’ means that these players got out quickly without scoring many runs, which was a problem for India in this match.
New ball -: In cricket, the ‘new ball’ is a fresh, hard ball that is used after a certain number of overs. It is often more challenging for batsmen to play against because it can move unpredictably.
