by New Zealand needed 107 runs to win their first Test on Indian soil since 1988 after the home team collapsed in the final session on Saturday despite a tremendous fightback from Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant.
At stumps on a rain-hit Day 4, the Black Caps had not opened their account in their second innings when darkness halted play.
India lost seven wickets for just 54 runs in their second innings, sinking to a total of 462 in 99.3 overs. Pacer Will O’Rourke picked 3-92 while Matt Henry needed 3-102 to end the Indian threat.
The backlash revolved around a 177-run partnership between Khan and Pant. Khan scored his maiden Test century – 150 runs off 195 balls – while Pant made 99 runs.
Sarfaraz Khan celebrates his first century for India and ends with 150
India had posted their lowest ever score of 46 in the first innings in Tests on home soil. New Zealand had replied with 402 runs and a lead of 356 runs.
After lunch, when India were at 344-3, there was another rain delay and 24 overs were lost. When play resumed, Khan and Pant continued their 113-match unbeaten partnership.
Khan became the third Indian batsman to score a duck and more than 150 runs in the same Test. He achieved this feat in the second innings off 194 balls.
Previously, he had reached his first hundred off 110 balls, which drew cheers. He had made 70 not out overnight and was countering the New Zealand bowling throughout.
In total, Khan hit 18 fours and three sixes while Pant hit nine fours and five sixes.
That ended when New Zealand took the second new ball before tea and made the breakthrough. Tim Southee had Khan caught in the 85th over but the big moment came when O’Rourke bowled Pant in the 89th over. This initiated India’s collapse as the lower middle order could not resist the new ball.
O’Rourke left Lokesh Rahul with 12 points while Ravindra Jadeja was out with 5 points.
Henry caught Ravichandran Ashwin lbw for 15 and then removed the tailenders within six deliveries. India lost their last six wickets for 29 runs off 68 deliveries.
After just four deliveries in the Kiwi innings, rain prevented any further play. Jasprit Bumrah’s loud LBW cry against Tom Latham was dismissed as India lost a review.
The lowest score India has defended to win a Test on home soil is 107 runs against Australia in Mumbai in 2004.
India top the World Test Championship standings and a 3-0 win in this series against New Zealand would all but secure them a place in the final at Lord’s next June. India recently defeated Bangladesh 2-0.
New Zealand is already on a long subcontinental tour. It started with a poor test against Afghanistan and was followed by a 2-0 series defeat in Sri Lanka.
The second match of the three-Test series between India and New Zealand will be played in Pune from next Thursday and the final match in Mumbai from November 1.
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