IND vs NZ 2024: Sarfaraz receives standing ovation from packed house after marathon knock

Sarfaraz Khan notched up his maiden international ton on Day 4 of the first Test between India and New Zealand at the M Chinnasway Stadium in Bengaluru. The elation in his celebration on getting to the milestone revealed how much the feat meant for him, as he roared in jubilation during his celebratory lap. The young gun did not stop there, as he kept on ticking over the scoreboard and converted his century into 150. 

However, Sarfaraz could not get past that as he found the man at cover off a 129 kph outswinger from Tim Southee to end up as New Zealand's first wicket of the day. Rishabh Pant, with whom Sarfaraz was involved in a colossal 177-run stand, was the first to come and pat him  before a few Kiwi players did the same. The packed Chinnaswamy crowd also stood up give Sarfaraz a warm send-off after a scintillating knock. 

Quite some members of the crowd would have seen Sarafaraz from close quarters. This dates back to quite some years back, back when Sarfaraz was a part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru from 2015 to 2018.

Also Check: WATCH: Rishabh Pant gets down on one knee to launch 107-metre maximum, leaves Kiwis baffled

Rain forces early stumps with New Zealand 107 away

It was a tame end to the Indian innings after Sarfaraz and then later, Rishabh Pant was dismissed for 99. The latter would probably count himself to be a tad bit unlucky as he missed out on a justified ton by just a sole run. However, the lower middle-order and the tail did not last long for India to get bowled out for 462.

Also Check: WATCH: BCCI's blast-from-past clip shows Virat Kohli bowing down to Sarfaraz Khan at Chinnaswamy Stadium

India started off with Jasprit Bumrah with the conditions being conducive for seam bowling. The conditions increasingly got more overcast than normal but the on-field umpires deciding to take the players off after just four deliveries into the innings due to bad light. Moments later, the heavens opened up, forcing an early close of play on Day 4.