PITCH REPORT - Simon Doull and Murali Kartik take us through the conditions ahead of Day 4. Kartik points out that the cracks on the surface have slightly opened up, with some positioned in the batter's eyeline. He highlights the red marks left by the ball landing on those cracks and explains how the ball has been behaving differently depending on where it strikes. If the ball lands on the front of the crack, it results in extra bounce, while if it lands at the end of the crack, it tends to stay low. When pitched directly on the middle of the crack, the ball deviates off the deck. Doull adds that this will pose a real challenge for the Indian batters.

While India will now look to rebuild, the task will be anything but easy. Sarfaraz Khan, though well set, will need to restart and build from scratch, with support from the rest of the batting lineup. India’s immediate goal will be to erase the deficit, and from there, a lead of around 150-180 could give them a strong chance to push for a result, something they’ll be keen on, given the importance of WTC points. It’s shaping up to be a thrilling day of cricket, with both teams ready to throw punches and counterpunch in this closely contested battle. Brace up, as the action is just moments away from now!

New Zealand were met with stubborn resistance from the Indian top order, but their relentless persistence and patience finally cracked open the Indian innings, removing the top three batters! With fresh batters walking in, each under pressure after their struggles in the first innings, the Kiwis will be eager to make the most of this situation. The opening hour could be decisive, offering New Zealand the best opportunity to extract early movement and tear through the batting lineup once again. They’ll know that one or two quick wickets here could put them firmly in control of this match.

Hello and a warm welcome to Day 4 of this exciting first Test between India and New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru! With India still trailing by 125 runs, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Traditionally, Day 3 is known as 'Moving Day', but with the first day lost to rain, today could very well decide the course of this match. India will be hoping to forge a couple of solid partnerships to get past the deficit, while New Zealand will be eager to exploit the early conditions and make quick inroads into the batting lineup. By the end of the day's play, we should have a clearer idea of which way the match will head - or, who knows, we might even witness the match reaching an early conclusion!

... DAY 4, SESSION 1 ...

Right then, that wraps up an exhilarating day of Test cricket, where India fought back valiantly with the bat. However, the late wicket of Kohli will have certainly deflated their spirits. They will need to regroup and be ready for a tough challenge ahead. Trailing by 125 runs, the hosts will need to take it session by session, starting with seeing off the crucial first hour on Day 4. On the other hand, New Zealand will feel reinvigorated after that crucial breakthrough and will be eager to capitalize on any early morning assistance. The forecast suggests rain in patches, much like Day 3, but thankfully the rain stayed away today, and everyone will hope for the same tomorrow. It will be an early start on Day 4 with the first ball set to be bowled at 3.45 am GMT, but you can join us early for all the build-up. See you then. Cheers!

Rachin Ravindra is in for a chat. He talks about his batting and says that they were looking to build partnerships after the wickets had fallen. He further talks about the sixes giving him a lot of confidence during batting. He talks about Bangalore being the hometown of his father and having a lot of family members here and says that it is a great feeling to score runs in this city.

In reply, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma applied themselves well, and while the conditions weren't as tough as in the first innings, they still had to remain cautious. The duo navigated the session without losing a wicket, reaching Tea unscathed. However, Jaiswal fell shortly after the break. The Indian skipper soon found his rhythm, with boundaries flowing, but after reaching 52, he was dismissed. Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan, both of whom were on a pair, joined forces and initially looked shaky. As they spent more time at the crease, they grew in confidence, maintaining a steady tempo in India's innings on their way to well-deserved fifties. Just when it seemed like the pair of Sarfaraz and Kohli would go unscathed, Phillips managed to nick Kohli off on the last ball of the day.

Would you believe it? Glenn Phillips, with his golden arm, strikes at the perfect moment, dismissing the big fish and turning what looked like a promising finish for India into a tragic end to the day. New Zealand’s perseverance pays off, and they continue to hold the ascendancy in this Test, strengthening their grip on the contest. Earlier, the day began with India aiming to limit the damage, ideally hoping to keep the lead under 200. When they picked up 4 wickets within the first hour, it looked like they might achieve that goal. However, Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee combined to crush those hopes. The Indian bowlers had no response to the relentless flow of runs as Rachin's brilliant second Test century, along with Southee's 65, propelled New Zealand to 402, finishing with a commanding lead of 356 runs after being 233/7 at one point.

Change of gloves for Kohli and this could now be the last over of the day.