India had a 304-run lead over New Zealand at lunch, with five more sessions to go in the first of the three-Test series at Green Park Kanpur. So far, we have witnessed some top-drawer cricket. Be it Trent Boult’s stunning three-for, Murali Vijay-Cheteshwar Pujara partnerships or Ravindra Jadeja’s majestic spin bowling, the contest has produced spectacular cricket. In addition, it being India’s 500th Test, we saw former India Test captains such Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, among others gracing Kanpur’s Green Park with their presence. “Part of the 500th Test, I couldn’t even imagine I’d be captaining it. I am grateful and honoured,” said Virat Kohli at the toss.
Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara stitched up a 112-run partnership for the second wicket in the first innings. Both batsmen scored attractive half-centuries but failed to covert it into a three-figure mark. However, India cascaded from 154 for 1 to 318 all-out, courtesy Indian middle order’s dismal performance. The likes of Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane suffered rare failures, perishing on 9 and 18 respectively. However, late resurgence by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja helped India post a competitive total. On the other hand, Boult and Mitchell Santner picked up three-fors each.
New Zealand replied strong on Day Two, losing only one wicket. Captain Kane Williamson added 124 runs for the second wicket, putting India on the back foot. However, rain played spoilsport, forcing umpires to call it a day post tea. All the same, fortunes changed on Day Three. India’s spin unit tranced the New Zealanders with their wizardly spin. Also read: Sehwag sends birthday wishes to the legend, who ‘cheated batsmen with a cherry in hand’
Jadeja, especially, rocked the New Zealand lower order, eventually scalping a staggering five-for. Ashwin, as always, provided the much-needed impetus with his four-for. New Zealand were bowled out for 262, with India leading by 56 runs.
KL Rahul bludgeoned (by Test standards) 38 runs, inclusive of 8 fours. The onus was then on Vijay-Pujara pair to help India post a big total for New Zealand. Both added 133 runs for the second wicket, laying a strong foundation for the middle order to take the New Zealanders to cleaners.
However, both were dismissed in the 70s, giving away good starts. Nonetheless, they had done their job. The responsibility was on the erratic middle order. Virat Kohli played a couple of lovely strokes but looked edgy on this rank-turner. In the end, he played a mindless shot, top-edging it straight to Ish Sodhi at mid-wicket. As a matter of fact, in his last 6 innings, he scored only 94 runs at 15.76, which also mean that he failed to score a half-century since his double-hundred at North Sound, Antigua. Also read: Eden Gardens gears up for India’s 250th Test at home
Rahane, however, scored 40 runs, smashing 4 delightful boundaries, before Santner dismissed him with a peach of delivery. The scorecard read 277 for 5.
India needed someone to dominate the New Zealanders. Meanwhile, Kohli sent Jadeja (ahead of Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha) to the same. But it was Rohit Sharma who stole the thunder with his swaggering half-century.
His first boundary clearly showed his intention: he was there to score runs. He put away Ish Sodhi’s full-toss to the long-boundary in style. He cleared his front leg, and with the full swing of the arms, he compelled the crowd on its feet. He may be erratic, but when he gets going, he is a delight to watch. As a matter of fact, he has scores of 177 and 111* in the first two Tests he played. Be that as it may, he failed to continue the stellar show ever since. He has scores of 72 in New Zealand, couple of 40-plus scores in Australia, 79 in Sri Lanka, among other. He did manage to score runs but often failed at crucial junctures.
Given there a number of cricketers making headlines in domestic cricket, Rohit was mindful that scoring runs was imperative for him. To put things into perspective, he scored a crisp 35-run knock in the first. And like he does, he gave away his wicket while trying to clearing mid-on: another mindless shot. Also read: Williamson’s dismissal was game-changer, says Jadeja
Rohit’s second boundary was swaggering: a lovely glance. He looked in ominous touch. Soon he reach the 1,000-run mark in Test cricket. It was a back-of-length ball, and Rohit elegantly played it to covers. The talismanic batsmen must have been proud of this achievement.
He then mastered the astonishing Boult, plundering back-to-back boundaries. He eased the first one through off-side, followed a late-cut past the wicketkeeper. He then brought up his fifth half-century in 75 balls.
On the other hand, Jadeja fired on all cylinders. He, in fact, used his long handle to blasting effect, putting the hosts in a commanding position. He scored his second half-century off 58 balls, studded with two fours and three sixes. He celebrated it with his trademark fencing. Meanwhile, Kohli declared as India reached a league of 433 runs. To add to the fire, he imitated Jadeja’s fencing and asked him to come back to the dressing room.
New Zealand now need 434 runs to win, with four more sessions to go.
Since 1995, New Zealand have won only two Test matches in India. Not that 434 is not conquerable; it will be indeed an uphill climb. They will have to show magnificent show of character to make history on Indian soil. Moreover, only twice an opposition manage to chase 200-plus target. Will the Black Caps score 434 runs against the might of Indian bowling unit, is a question only time will tell.
Brief Scores
India 318 all-out (Murali Vijay 65, Cheteshwar Pujara 62; Trent Boult 3 for 67) and 377 for 5 decl. (Cheteshwar Pujara 78, Murali Vijay 76; Mitchell Santner 2 for 78) lead New Zealand 262 all-out (Kane Williamson 75, Tom Latham 58; Ravindra Jadeja 5 for 73, Ravichandran Ashwin 4 for 93) by 434 runs
(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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