India reached 195 for 5 at lunch on day two of the third and final Test against New Zealand, trailing by 40 runs. Resuming play at their overnight score of 86 for 4, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill emerged as key contributors to the Indian innings. Pant played a counter-attacking knock, bringing up his half-century with flair, while Gill remained solid at the crease, finishing the session on 70 not out.
Pant’s aggressive approach was a highlight of the morning session. He quickly accelerated the scoring and was instrumental in rebuilding India’s innings. However, his innings came to an abrupt end when he was trapped leg before wicket by Ish Sodhi in the 38th over, leaving India at 165 for 5. Despite the setback, Pant’s score of 60 showcased his intent and ability to counter the New Zealand bowling attack.
Shubman Gill, meanwhile, displayed a composed batting performance, complementing Pant’s aggression with stability. He reached his half-century with a mix of solid defense and timely boundaries, ensuring India stayed in the contest. The Indian batsmen capitalized on a few missed chances by the New Zealand fielders, who dropped critical catches that could have altered the course of the innings.
New Zealand, having scored 235 in their first innings, aimed to capitalize on their lead. Daryl Mitchell and Will Young were the top scorers for the visitors, with Mitchell making 82 and Young contributing 71 runs. India’s bowlers, led by Ravindra Jadeja, who took 5 wickets for 65 runs, and Washington Sundar, who claimed 4 for 81, managed to bundle out New Zealand for 235 in 65.4 overs.
As the teams head into the next phase of the game, India will be looking to build a solid partnership and take control of the innings, while New Zealand will aim to exploit any weaknesses and secure a commanding position.