Sarfaraz Khan's Stellar Century in Bengaluru Keeps India's Hopes Alive in 1st Test vs New Zealand

Sarfaraz Khan Shines with Maiden Century on Day 4 of 1st Test: On Day 4 of the First Test against New Zealand at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on October 19, Sarfaraz Khan recorded an amazing century. Reaching the mark in only 110 balls, he developed a vital 136-run partnership with Virat Kohli on Day 3, helping India to attempt a come back.

Sarfaraz returned strongly after being excluded during the Bangladesh series. He scored a duck in the first innings but rapidly corrected matters in the second especially on Day 4 of the 1st Test vs NZ. He had shown his aptitude with a match-winning double-century in the Irani Cup before this game.

Sarfaraz acknowledged the audience and his teammates as he celebrated his hundred with his bat hoisted high in the 57th over with Rishabh Pant on the other side of the crease. This achievement is just the 22nd time an Indian player has scored both a duck and a century in the same Test. Shubman Gill and Shikhar Dhawan notably also accomplished this in earlier games.

Rishabh Pant joined Sarfaraz on Day 4 after Kohli was dismissed for 70 and suffered a knee injury. Beginning the day undefeated on 70, Sarfaraz maintained a balanced approach mixing bold strokes with care under cloudy clouds.

Rohit Sharma rapidly added sixteen runs after Yashasvi Jaiswal was stumped, racing to twenty-three off sixteen balls on Day 3. Kohli was calm despite striking a six off Ajaz Patel to indicate India's aggressive intention. Though wickets were lost, the pair's partnership enabled India to recover from a dismal first-innings score of 46 all out.

IND VS NZ PLAYING XI:

New Zealand (Playing XI): Tom Latham(c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell(w), Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, William ORourke

India (Playing XI):  Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal,  KL Rahul ,  Virat Kohli , Sarfaraz Khan,  Rishabh Pant (w), Ravindra Jadeja,  Ravichandran Ashwin , Kuldeep Yadav,  Jasprit Bumrah , Mohammed Siraj