India’s 500th Test was full of drama and emotions. Former Indian captains were invited as well as felicitated on this historic day. Legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni among others sat back in the VIP box and enjoyed their countrymen play quality cricket. From domination to struggle, Green Park saw India and New Zealand combat in a battle of attrition. It was a well-balance day, as both batsmen as well as bowlers enjoyed success on this track. However, New Zealand‘s collective bowling effort reduced India 291 for 9 at the end of Day 1.
India captain Virat Kohli elected to bat first, albeit there was slight grass on the track. In addition, dark clouds towered over the stadium. For precaution, the groundsmen kept the covers ready, as showers were expected to ruin the day’s play. However, Rain Gods had different plans scheduled. They wanted to see two of the finest Test teams script top-drawer show. “Looks like a pretty good wicket for Day One. Part of the 500th Test, I couldn’t even imagine I’d be captaining it. I am grateful and honoured. We have six batsmen, two spinners and two quicks,” said Kohli at the toss.
Kohli always believed in five-bowler strategy, with Ravichandran Ashwin batting at No. 4. Nonetheless, Kohli decided to play an extra batsman instead. Given it’s a belter of a track, the decision seemed fair and square. All the same, what baffled everyone was the exclusion of Shikhar Dhawan. To put things into perspective, Dhawan was also dropped in the final test of the India-West Indies series, following an inconsistent performance. FULL CRICKET UPDATES: India Vs New Zealand, 1st Test 2016, Day 1
On the other hand, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson drafted the aggressive Luke Ronchi, who scored a swashbuckling hundred against Mumbai in the team’s practice match. India have a lethal spin duo of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. And to tackle the spinners in their home conditions is an uphill climb. As a result, drafting Ronchi — who loves to fire on all cylinders — shows the kind of mindset New Zealand want to play with.
However, the opening duo of KL Rahul and Murali Vijay went great guns and displayed attacking brand of cricket. Rahul, especially, played lovely strokes to put New Zealand on the back foot. He scored 4 fours and a six to stitch his 32-run knock off just 39 deliveries. He looked good for yet another innings of substance but was outfoxed by Mitchell Santner’s length ball. Instead of playing on the front foot, he tried to tackle it without any foot work, eventually edging it to the keeper.
That brought Cheteshwar Pujara at the crease, with Vijay playing proper cricketing shots at the other end. To remind you, these two class-apart batsmen were in and out of the team in the previous tour. Hence, getting some runs under the belt was imperative for them. Also read: 10 things that makes Kohli and Williamson similar and the very best
While Vijay waited at the crease, Pujara used his feet to pierce gaps. All in all, both scored runs with ease and grace.
Pujara used his feet to maximum effect every time the ball was pitched up. What commendable was his intent to score runs at a reasonable rate. He stepped down the track as well as rocked back to keep the scoreboard ticking.
However, it was a soft dismissal that perished Pujara. And yet again, it was Santner who provided the breakthrough. His 62-run knock was studded with 8 stunning fours. Along with Vijay, he added 112 runs for the second wicket.
The scorecard read 154 for 2.
The next batsman in was Kohli. Crowd started chanting his name in excitement. India’s superstar was at the crease. Another hundred was on the cards, they thought. And he started off in style, hitting two swaggering fours. Also read: India’s wizardly spin attack to catch New Zealand in a spell
Be that as it may, Indian captain played a rash shot to end his innings. Neil Wagner’s short delivery caught him in the crease, edging it to Ish Sodhi at deep fine-leg. All of a sudden, India were pushed on the back foot. The momentum had shifted to New Zealand.
Vijay was still in the middle, looking set for a hundred. He looked calm and composed despite losing wickets at the other end (there’s a reason they call him a ‘monk’). With Rahane at the other end, all he had to do was stitch a vital partnership. Nonetheless, as fate would have it, Sodhi dismissed Vijay on 65.
By then, it looked like a batsman-friendly track. It indeed was. It, in fact, was New Zealand’s resilience to take wickets that turned the fortunes.
Mark Craig added India in further turmoil, dismissing Ajinkya Rahane on 18. It was a traditional bat-pad dismissal.
With half the side back in the dressing room, the onus was then on Rohit Sharma and Ashwin to guide India to a competitive total. Rohit’s batsmanship needs no unveiling, but his inconsistency is still a bother of concern. On the other hand, Ashwin scored two hundreds in the Caribbean, and often looks comfortable at the crease (should not he bat up the order?). Also read: Tendulkar: See this batch representing India for next 10 years
The duo played aggressive strokeplay and added 52 runs for the sixth wicket. While Rohit tried to dictate terms, Ashwin used the depth of the crease and played control shots.
Meanwhile, Rohit was perished while trying to clear mid-on.
India still had a chance to fight back, as Wriddhiman Saha joined Ravichandran Ashwin in the middle, the same duo who added 213 runs for the sixth in the third Test against West Indies earlier. However, the wicketkeeper-batsman was castled with Trent Boult’s peach of delivery. If truth be told, it was unplayable. It was pitched on middle-and-off, in the block hole, dipped in late and dismantled Saha’s defence. To make things worse for India, Boult sent Ashwin back to the pavilion.
From 154 for 1, India were reduced to 291 for 9, courtesy New Zealand’s stunning bowling display.
Brief scores
India 291 for 9 (Murali Vijay 65, Cheteshwar Pujara 62; Trent Boult 57 for 3) vs New Zealand
(Kaustubh S. Mayekar, a reporter at CricketCountry, played cricket at U-16 level. Like his idol Rahul Dravid, he often shadow-practises cricket shots. His Twitter handle is @kaumedy_)
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