New Zealand in India 2024/25, IND vs NZ 1st Test Match Report, October 16 – 20, 2024

However, Southee, 89 Test sixes to his name and with a penchant for taking a swing, batted with composure to keep Ravindra company. Ravindra kept trusting his partner despite the previous two batters missing straight balls on middle stump. There was a time in the partnership when Southee had faced 16 of the 19 balls. However, Southee managed to survive, refusing to throw his bat at it.

Ravindra kept growing in confidence, hardly ever getting caught on the crease, either playing right back or meeting the ball on the half-volley. From the start of the 70th over to end of the 80th, he motored along from 48 off 87 to 104 off 125. He resumed the day on 22 off 34, took the boundary off the full ball from Siraj first ball, and then respected the good bowling even as Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell offered an outside edge each to the two quicks.

Phillips swung like there was no tomorrow, got a six, but offered a free passage to a full straight ball from Jadeja. Henry managed two fours before losing his middle stump to Jadeja. Southee started off circumspect, but managed to survive.

In the 70th over, Ravindra skipped down to Kuldeep Yadav to loft him back over his head to get to his fifty. This is when he felt good about it and started to push his intent. A second four in the over took the lead past 200. Then Kuldeep overpitched to Southee for another four. He had been 4 off 18 then.

Under attack from the moment he started bowling on day two, R Ashwin offered a full toss in his first over of the day, which Ravindra deposited over midwicket for a six. The floodgates had well and truly been opened. Ravindra was now messing with the lengths of the bowlers while Southee waited 39 balls to attempt his first six, nailing an overpitched delivery from Ashwin, whose figures at lunch read 16-1-94-1.

The session, though, belonged to Ravindra, who took his time before taking the game to the spinners.