Bengaluru (Karnataka): Bengaluru's 'Local boy' Rachin Ravindra continued his love affair with M Chinnaswamy Stadium as he became the first New Zealand batter to score a Test century in India. Rachin achieved this historic feat during the first Test between India and New Zealand at M Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Friday, October 18, 2024. It must be a special knock as it came in front of his family, at a place where he has roots.
The Bengaluru-origin batter, who originally hails from Wellington, showcased the same form which he carried during the 2023 ODI World Cup, notching up his second Test hundred. Ravindra shared a crucial partnership with Tim Southee as the duo took New Zealand's lead past 250. As New Zealand's attack continued, India conceded the biggest first innings lead since 2013 at home
The team take a 299-run lead into lunch on Day 3. A second Test century for Rachin Ravindra and a 112-run partnership with Tim Southee (49*) driving the team forward in Bengaluru. Follow play LIVE in NZ on @skysportnz or @SENZ_Radio LIVE scoring | https://t.co/yADjMlJjpO 🏏 pic.twitter.com/dpYLO2nu4U
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) October 18, 2024
Former captain Ross Taylor was the last batter to smash a Test hundred in India with his 113-run knock and coincidentally, that Test also happened in Bengaluru.
The southpaw batter came in at a stage where he had to push his side ahead and went on to put them in full control. He started quite slow early on in the innings, but once he got set and was running out of the partners on the other end, he took on spinners and completed a brilliant hundred and became the 18th Kiwi player to score a hundred in India.
Test century number two for Rachin Ravindra!
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) October 18, 2024
It comes from 124 balls with 11 fours and 2 sixes. Pushing the team towards a big lead in Bengaluru. Follow play LIVE in NZ on @skysportnz or @SENZ_Radio LIVE scoring | https://t.co/yADjMlJjpO 📲 #INDvNZ #CricketNation 📸 BCCI pic.twitter.com/rshaKAYyDI
However, Tim Southee, who stepped down from the captaincy ahead of the series, provided much-needed support from the other end as he was able to negate the Indian spinners, allowing Rachin to start playing his shots. Southee would hit 3 fours and 3 sixes to remain unbeaten on 49 off 50 balls, while Rachin got to his 2nd hundred in quick time. With this six-hitting, he became the player to hit the sixth most sixes in Test cricket history.
