India create history by becoming first team to achieve massive feat on Day 3 of IND vs NZ 2024 1st Test
Team India created history on Day 3 of the first Test against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, becoming the first-ever side to hit 100 sixes in Tests in a calendar year. Rohit Sharma and Co. surpassed the previous record held by England, who clobbered 89 maximums in Tests in 2022.
India's batters led a strong fightback for the hosts on Day 3 of the first Test against the Kiwis in Bengaluru on Friday, October 18. After having conceded a huge first-innings lead of 356, India were 231-3 at stumps in their second innings. Sarfaraz Khan was unbeaten on 70, while Virat Kohli was dismissed on the same score off the last ball of the day. Earlier, skipper Rohit Sharma also contributed 52 runs.
As per a report in The Times of India, India now have 102 sixes to their credit in Test matches in 2024. Looking at individual contributions, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill have slammed 29 and 16 sixes, respectively for India in Test matches this year. England are second on the list, having struck 68 sixes so far in Test matches in 2024.
Among teams to hit most sixes in Test cricket in a calendar year, India (87 in 2021) occupy the third position, followed by New Zealand (81 in 2014) and the Kiwis again (71 in 2013).
Resolute India make New Zealand bowlers work hard on Day 3 in Bengaluru
Hosts India got off to a horror start in the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand, as they were bundled out for 46 on Day 2 (the opening day was washed out). The Kiwis responded with 402 courtesy of Rachin Ravindra (134), Devon Conway (91) and Tim Southee (65), gaining a huge first-innings lead of 356.
India came up with a much better batting effort in their second essay and had reduced New Zealand's deficit to 125 by stumps on Day 3, with seven wickets in hand. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (35) and Rohit added 72 runs for the first wicket. After the duo was dismissed, Kohli and Sarfaraz joined hands in a third-wicket stand of 136. The former, however, fell to Glenn Phillips on the last ball of the day.