India vs New Zealand 2024/25, IND vs NZ 1st Test Match Report, October 16 – 20, 2024

India 46 and 344 in 3 (Sarfaraz 125*, Pant 53*) route New Zealand 402 by 12 runs

Sarfaraz drank his way to his maiden Test century, and Pant, returning from a knee injury that had been surgically repaired in a life-threatening accident, battled his way to an unbeaten half-century. Combined together, the two were a real threat to the captain, Tom Latham. They were unconcerned with field sets, showed no fear of making mistakes, and the New Zealand bowlers again failed to give Latham control. The biggest disappointment was Ajaz Patel, who turned the ball less than part-time batsman Rachin Ravindra, who bowled one over before rain cut short the session.

It looked like the seam bowlers wanted to trap Sarfaraz lbw, but that kept giving him easy singles on the leg side. When the keeper reached the stumps, Pant focused on the crease, and the visitors were awarded an edge but the dying pitch did not have enough to carry it. In the eighth week of the day, Sarfaraz punched Southee deep for what would have been a single from any other batsman, but he had all the fielders back with his late cut. The border raised a hundred emotions.

Apart from Southee, Glenn Phillips was the only one who could control New Zealand, but he, too, bowled a full toss to take Pant to his half-century. New Zealand committed 25 errors in 22 overs, which isn’t huge considering the way they attack. Either way, they had lost the right to have attacking players to capitalize on these mistakes. And the edges did not carry.

The only time New Zealand got a wicket was a chance at Pant’s end but Tom Blundell avenged him for the second time in the match by leaving his base to collect a wide delivery, seemingly oblivious to the opportunity at his end. Pant’s score was only six at that time.

The rain came as a relief to New Zealand with half an hour to go before the lunch break. Lunch was finally served at 11.20 am, ten minutes earlier than usual.