Fri Oct 18 09:59:19 UTC 2024: ## India Stage a Recovery, But Face Huge Task in Bengaluru Test
**Bengaluru:** After suffering a humiliating first innings collapse, India managed to steady the ship in the second innings of the first Test against New Zealand, reaching 57/0 at tea on day two. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (29*) and captain Rohit Sharma (27*) put together an unbroken 57-run stand to provide some much-needed respite for the hosts, who still trail by a daunting 299 runs.
India’s recovery came after a dominant display by New Zealand, who piled up a massive first-innings score of 402, led by a breathtaking century from Rachin Ravindra (134). Ravindra’s onslaught after lunch, which included powerful strikes against the Indian spinners, saw the lead surge past 350. He was eventually dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav, but not before inflicting further damage on the Indian bowling attack.
Despite the challenging task ahead, India showed signs of resilience in their second innings. Rohit Sharma displayed his trademark strokeplay, while Jaiswal, though a bit streaky initially, managed to build a solid foundation. The scoring rate was a positive sign, with the Indian batsmen not allowing themselves to get bogged down by the large deficit.
However, the match is far from over. With seven sessions remaining, India still face a steep climb. The next session will be crucial for their chances of salvaging the game. The pitch has shown signs of uneven bounce, which could further test the Indian batsmen. The spinners are likely to play a significant role as the match progresses.
**Brief scores:**
**India 46 and 57/0 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 29*, Rohit Sharma 27*) trail New Zealand 402 (Rachin Ravindra 134, Devon Conway 91; Ravindra Jadeja 3-72) by 299 runs.
First Piper 