Bengaluru: Rachin Ravindra hit a sensational century to thwart a spirited fightback by the Indian bowlers on Day 3 of the first Test at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Ravindra’s superb counter-attacking knock took New Zealand to a huge total of 402 in reply to India’s 46 all-out as the hosts took a massive first-innings lead of 356.
Resuming the day from 180 for three, the Kiwis lost wickets at the regular intervals (53 for 4) to spark the danger of a collapse before Ravindra and Tim Southee counter-attack to stun the Indians.
Ravindra (134, 157b) and a fiery Southee (65, 73b) added 157 runs for the eighth wicket – the joint-highest 8th wicket or lower partnership for New Zealand against India.
Ravindra, who was unbeaten overnight on 22, was the last wicket to fall, dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav for 134.
Ravindra overtakes Gary Sobers equals Everton Weeks in elite list
This was Ravindra’s second Test century and fourth international century in India. The 24-year-old allrounder scored three centuries at the ODI World Cup in India last year, including a blazing hundred against Pakistan during the ODI World Cup 2023 at the same venue.
By scoring his fourth ton in India, Ravindra equalled West Indies legend Everton Weekes’ record of scoring 4 international hundreds in India before turning 25.
He overtook iconic all-rounder Gary Sobers, explosive batter Chris Gayle and his compatriot Nathan Astle who had all scored three international hundreds in India aged 25 or less
Most international hundreds by a visiting player in India aged 25 or less
4 – Everton Weekes (7 Inns)
4 – Rachin Ravindra (16 Inns)
3 – Garry Sobers (8 Inns)
3 – Nathan Astle (11 Inns)
3 – Chris Gayle (12 Inns)
3 – Salman Butt (20 Inns)
3 – Upul Tharanga (21 Inns)
Ravindra, who has his family roots in Bengaluru, also became the first Kiwi batter to score a Test century in India after a gap of 12 years. The Local Boy celebrated his emotional homecoming in style scoring a sizzling century – the first by a New Zealand batter since Ross Taylor’s 113-run knock at the same venue in 2012.
