IND vs NZ: That 20 year old game plan… will it bring victory to Team India?

New Delhi. India has set a target of 107 runs for New Zealand in the first test match of the 3-match series. Although it is difficult for Rohit and Company to defend this target but it is not impossible. Team India had already defended the target of such a low score at Wankhede Stadium 20 years ago. In the year 2004, India successfully defended the target of 107 runs against Australia at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Then the Indian team had defended its lowest target in the Test. Team India will now have to use the same strategy on the fifth day of the Bangalore Test against New Zealand. The Indian team can repeat the charisma of twenty years ago.

On the basis of 177-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Sarfaraz Ahmed (150) and Rishabh Pant (99), India started tightening the noose on New Zealand, but after losing 7 wickets in 54 runs, Team India was in trouble. New Zealand’s fast bowlers showed wonders with the new ball and ruined India’s plans of taking a big lead. The Indian team could score only 462 runs in the second innings. The Kiwi team had taken a lead of 356 runs in the first innings. After being bundled out for 46 runs in the first innings, India gave New Zealand a target of 107, which is not difficult but it is not easy for the Kiwi batsmen to achieve this target in the fourth innings in India.

Rishabh Pant stuck in the trap of 99… still broke Dhoni’s big record, became India’s number one wicketkeeper in this case

IND vs NZ: After 36 years, New Zealand got a golden opportunity, Team India made a big mistake, got a chance to create history.

India has defended this score only once so far in Test history. In 2004, Team India, captained by Rahul Dravid, defeated the Australian team led by Rick Ponting by 13 runs in Mumbai. The Australian team was bundled out for 93 runs while chasing the target of 107 runs. The spin trio of Murali Karthik, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh played an important role in giving India a memorable victory.

Indian team has done this feat
Team India had defeated Australia for 83 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1981. Then India was defending the target of 143 runs. The Indian team had successfully defended the target of 188 runs against New Zealand in Mumbai in 1969, while the Indian team had successfully defended the target of 188 runs against Australia in 2017 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Then the captaincy of Australia was in the hands of Steve Smith. Talking about overall Test history, the record of defending the lowest target is in the name of Australia which had defended 85 runs against England in 1882.

The fourth day’s play ended early due to bad light
In the Bangalore Test, New Zealand had just started chasing the target when the umpires stopped the match during the first over due to bad light. After this it started raining heavily and the day’s play was declared over. The team has so far not been able to open its account in its second innings of four balls. Both his/her opening batsmen Tom Latham and Devon Conway are present at the crease. Indian captain Rohit Sharma also appeared upset with the umpires’ decision to stop the match due to bad light. he/she was also seen talking to the on-field umpires in a somewhat harsh tone.

tag: india vs new zealand, Rishabh Pant, Rohit Sharma, Sarfaraz Khan