The opening Test of the three-match series between India and New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru produced one of the most thrilling roller-coaster red-ball encounters in recent subcontinental history. After being bundled out for a shocking 46 in the first innings under overcast skies, India staged a ferocious second-innings fightback before the Black Caps clinched a historic 8-wicket victory—their first Test win on Indian soil in 36 years.
The Second-Innings Heroics: Sarfaraz Khan & Rishabh Pant’s 177-Run Counter-Attack
Facing a massive 356-run first-innings deficit, India’s batting lineup exhibited supreme defiance on Day 3 and Day 4. Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan produced an innings of pure masterclass, notching his maiden Test century and converting it into a sensational 150 off 195 balls, laced with 18 boundaries and 3 sixes.
Operating in destructive harmony alongside Rishabh Pant—who was cruelly dismissed on 99 after playing with a taped knee—the duo dismantled New Zealand’s spin trio of Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, and Mitchell Santner with audacious ramps, sweeps, and straight-drive towering sixes.
Rachin Ravindra: The Phenomenon of the Match
New Zealand’s victory belonged undeniably to Wellington all-rounder Rachin Ravindra. Scoring 134 in the first innings and an unbeaten 39 in the fourth-innings chase of 107, Ravindra became the first New Zealand batter to score a Test century in India since Ross Taylor in 2012.
Match Summary & Scorecard Highlights
| Team & Innings | Total Score | Top Batsmen | Top Bowlers |
|---|---|---|---|
| India 1st Innings | 46 all out (31.2 ov) | Rishabh Pant (20) | Matt Henry 5/15, William O’Rourke 4/22 |
| New Zealand 1st Innings | 402 all out (91.3 ov) | Rachin Ravindra 134, Tim Southee 65 | Kuldeep Yadav 3/99, Ravindra Jadeja 3/72 |
| India 2nd Innings | 462 all out (99.3 ov) | Sarfaraz Khan 150, Rishabh Pant 99 | William O’Rourke 3/92, Matt Henry 3/102 |
| New Zealand 2nd Innings | 110/2 (27.4 ov) | Will Young 48*, Rachin Ravindra 39* | Jasprit Bumrah 2/29 |
Updated World Test Championship (WTC) Points Table Scenarios
The Bengaluru result tightens the race for the 2025/2026 ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s:
- India’s Points Percentage (PCT): Slips from 74.24% to 68.05%. To guarantee qualification without relying on overseas results, India must win 4 of their remaining 7 Tests (2 vs New Zealand in Pune and Mumbai, 5 vs Australia down under).
- New Zealand’s Surge: Climbs to 4th place with a 44.44% PCT, keeping their mathematical final hopes alive.
Review the full global standings table in our analytical feature on the World Test Championship Points Table 2026: WTC Standings.
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