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Xtra Time Web Desk: After a staggering 453 runs were scored on Day 3 of the first Test between India and New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kuldeep Yadav acknowledged the challenges faced by bowlers on the pitch. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Kuldeep admitted that the wicket didn’t offer much turn and the ground's smaller dimensions made controlling runs even harder.

“It was difficult to control runs on this wicket. Even the good deliveries were being hit. There wasn’t much turn off the pitch. Maybe because it was damp yesterday, today it had become hard. This ground also has a history. It is a small ground, and runs are easily scored here,” Kuldeep shared.

The 453 runs scored made it the second-highest run tally on a single day in India, just behind the 470 runs recorded at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.

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New Zealand strengthened their lead after bowling India out for 46 on Day 2, thanks to a crucial 137-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee. India’s spinners struggled, conceding 119 runs in the first session alone, with R. Ashwin bearing the brunt.

Kuldeep praised Ravindra’s performance but noted that Southee had his share of luck. “He [Ravindra] batted very well. I missed his wicket twice. He is a good player... I hope he doesn’t play like this in the upcoming matches,” Kuldeep joked. He added, “Tim Southee was lucky many times.”

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India responded to New Zealand’s 356-run first-innings lead by putting up 231 for three in 49 overs. Sarfaraz Khan led the fightback with an unbeaten 70 off 78 balls, building a solid 136-run partnership with Virat Kohli. Kuldeep expressed his admiration for Sarfaraz’s aggressive approach, saying, “We enjoy his [Sarfaraz] batting a lot… He doesn’t allow the spinners to settle down.”