Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar hailed centurions Rachin Ravindra and Sarfaraz Khan after their heroics in the first Test between India and New Zealand at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Rachin from New Zealand, who has roots in Bengaluru, scores his second Test ton as this helped the visitors to reach 402 in their first innings after bundling India to 46 – their lowest Test total at home. He played a knock of 134 runs that comprises studded with 13 fours and four sixes. He also became the first New Zealand batter to score a Test century in India since 2012.
While India's second innings progress was marked by quite a lot of action on Saturday, Sarfaraz made his maiden Test ton. He, along with Rishabh Pant, put up an unbroken 113-run partnership for the fourth wicket before rain stopped play in the first session and enforced early lunch. India were 344/3 in 71 overs with Sarfaraz (125) and Pant (53) on the crease.
"Cricket has a way of connecting us to our roots. Rachin Ravindra seems to have a special connect with Bengaluru, where his family hails from! Another century to his name," Tendulkar wrote on X.
"And Sarfaraz Khan, what an occasion to score your first Test century, when India needed it the most! Exciting times ahead for both these talented youngsters," he added.
Resuming from 70, Sarfaraz continued to be dauntless in his approach and pattered the square boundary on the off-side with tons of cheeky backfoot cuts and slices. Pant was well-supported from the other end; he unleashed his aggressive self after a brief period of patience.
After Pant got a mistimed loft off Henry over mid-on for four, Sarfaraz reached his hundred in a dominating fashion – a backfoot punch off Southee cleared the in-field for four – with the right-handed batter running while holding the bat high and his hands aloft. Then he removed the helmet, roared, and swung the bat blissfully as he got a bear hug from Pant, since the stadium was up on its feet to applaud an incredible knock under pressure.
While Sarfaraz kept paddling and dabbing his way to more boundaries, Pant started cutting loose, hammering Southee for six and four respectively. He then showed good footwork in belting Ajaz Patel for two mighty sixes, before getting to overturn an lbw decision as replays showed a big inside edge.
It was followed by New Zealand burning a review on the very next ball as Pant got bat on the skiddy delivery. Pant then got two more boundaries off Patel and Glenn Phillips to bring up his fifty in 55 balls, quashing all queries on his fitness after hobbling off the field due to being hit on the right knee while being on wicketkeeping duties on day two.
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