Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane continued to pummel the New Zealand bowlers into submission, notching up an unbeaten 356-run partnership, as India took tea on day two at 456/3. Kohli brought up the second double century of his career on the way, becoming the first Indian to score two 200s in Tests as captain. Rahane, meanwhile, scored his first ever Test 150.
The partnership is now India's highest for the fourth wicket ever, beating Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman's 353 against Australia in Sydney, 2004. They are 57 runs behind India's highest ever partnership for any wicket in Tests – 413 between Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy, also against New Zealand, in Madras, 1956. They are also only 93 runs behind the highest partnership for the fourth wicket in Test history – 449 between Australia's Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh versus West Indies last year.
Kohli and Rahane have complemented each other wonderfully in this partnership, with the latter being the aggressor on day two. While Rahane has already hit four sixes in this innings, Kohli has barely hit a single shot in the air. It's been a masterful innings from Kohli, who was under some pressure following his last double hundred, against the West Indies in July. He had gone through a lean patch – by his standards – since, and he has silenced his critics with some classic Test cricket.
New Zealand have all but waved the white flag in this Test after just five sessions. It has been a long, hot, tiring and almost fruitless five sessions for the tourists. India will be targeting at least 600 before declaring by the looks of it and New Zealand would do well to avoid an innings defeat from here on.
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