In one of the most dramatic Test matches ever contested on Indian soil, New Zealand concluded an extraordinary 36-year wait for a Test victory in India, defeating Rohit Sharma’s side by 8 wickets on Day 5 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. While Sarfaraz Khan’s sublime maiden 150 and Rishabh Pant’s explosive 99 mounted one of the greatest second-innings fightbacks in cricket history, the Black Caps held their nerve to chase down 107 in overcast morning conditions.
The Arc of the Bengaluru Test: From 46 All Out to Heroic Resistance
The Test match swung wildly between historical extremes across five tense days:
- The Day 2 Shock (India 46 All Out): Batting under heavy overcast skies and a damp pitch, India suffered their third-lowest total in Test history, dismantled by Matt Henry (5/15) and William O’Rourke (4/22) in just 31.2 overs.
- Rachin Ravindra’s Masterclass (New Zealand 402): Local Bengaluru-rooted prodigy Rachin Ravindra played an iconic innings of 134, partnering with former captain Tim Southee (65) to amass a mammoth 356-run first-innings lead.
- The Indian Counter-Punch (India 462): Refusing to surrender, India mounted a breathtaking 177-run fourth-wicket partnership between Sarfaraz Khan (150 off 195 balls) and Rishabh Pant (99 off 105 balls), hammering the Kiwi pace attack with sweeps and ramps to wipe out the deficit before the new ball triggered an unfortunate late collapse of 7 wickets for 54 runs.
- Day 5 Run Chase (NZ 110/2): Despite Jasprit Bumrah’s ferocious opening spell dismissing Tom Latham and Devon Conway, Will Young (48*) and Rachin Ravindra (39*) steered the Black Caps to an unforgettable 8-wicket victory.
For detailed analysis of player milestones, read our feature on India vs NZ 1st Test: Sarfaraz Khan 150 & WTC Impact.
Bengaluru Test Match Scorecard Summary
| Innings | Scoreline & Overs | Top Batsmen | Top Bowlers |
|---|---|---|---|
| India 1st Innings | 46 All Out (31.2 Overs) | Rishabh Pant (20), Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) | Matt Henry 5/15, Will O’Rourke 4/22 |
| New Zealand 1st Innings | 402 All Out (91.3 Overs) | Rachin Ravindra (134), Devon Conway (91), Tim Southee (65) | Kuldeep Yadav 3/99, Ravindra Jadeja 3/72 |
| India 2nd Innings | 462 All Out (99.3 Overs) | Sarfaraz Khan (150), Rishabh Pant (99), Virat Kohli (70) | Matt Henry 3/102, Will O’Rourke 3/92 |
| New Zealand 2nd Innings | 110 / 2 (27.4 Overs) | Will Young (48*), Rachin Ravindra (39*) | Jasprit Bumrah 2/29 (8 Overs) |
WTC Points Table Impact: India’s Qualification Margin Tightens
The defeat drops India’s World Test Championship points percentage from 74.24% down to 68.06%. To guarantee qualification for the Lord’s WTC Final without relying on overseas results, India must win at least 4 of their remaining 7 Tests across the New Zealand and Australia Border-Gavaskar series.
Review every qualification pathway in our ICC World Test Championship Points Table Scenarios Guide.
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