Debutant Shreyas Iyer took to Test cricket like a fish to the water as he smashed his maiden fifty on Day 1, ably supported by Ravindra Jadeja, whose batting has gone through the roof in the last couple of years to help India get to a score of 258 runs at the end of day’s play in the first game against New Zealand in Kanpur.
STUMPS on Day 1 of the 1st Test.
An unbeaten 113-run partnership between @ShreyasIyer15 & @imjadeja propel #TeamIndia to a score of 258/4 on Day 1.
Scorecard – https://t.co/WRsJCUhS2d #INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/7dNdUM0HkM
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2021
The day started with the New Zealand pacers getting a bit of movement off the surface. Indian openers Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal had to counter the swing early on. While they managed to get through the first half an hour, the latter, who looked tentative against the moving delivery was dismissed by the tall Kyle Jamieson for just 13 as the visitors got an early breakthrough.
New Zealand introduced spinner Ajaz Patel early and even though Jamieson was asking some questions from the end, Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara were able to negotiate the first hour.
Gill played some lovely drives off the back foot on both off and the leg side. His short-arm jabs and punches were a thing of beauty as he focussed on scoring while Pujara was solid and patient as always.
Gill brought up his fourth half-century in Test matches as India went into lunch in a decent position.
FIFTY!
A well made half-century for @ShubmanGill off 81 deliveries. This is his 4th in Test cricketÂ
Live – https://t.co/WRsJCUhS2d #INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/dtergTWr9b
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2021
However, it was all New Zealand in the second session as they lost both the set batters in Gill and Pujara in quick succession. Jamieson clean bowled Gill with a jaffa, while Tim Southee got better of Pujara.
Debutant Shreyas Iyer arrived in the middle in a tricky situation at 106/3.
After playing half-a-dozen dot deliveries he decided to take on the bowling but couldn’t time it well and fortunately for him, the ball was far away from running Kane Williamson at mid-off. After that shot, Shreyas became a little more restrained, however, didn’t curb his natural instincts.
Stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane and Iyer had to rebuild. The former played some eye-catching shorts and was looking to take the initiative before Jamieson struck again, taking his third wickets of the day, however, Iyer continued on.
He got an able ally in Ravindra Jadeja as both of them played the ball to its merit and frustrated the visitors. Iyer, after which brought up his maiden fifty in 94 balls as he helped India’s score to get to 200.
FIFTY!@ShreyasIyer15 brings up his maiden Test 50 on his debut game
Live – https://t.co/WRsJCUhS2d #INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/oH3WHHtAo1
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2021
Never did both of them look in discomfort as they played to the merit of the ball and didn’t miss out on any boundary opportunity.
Jadeja continued his magnificent form in Test matches bringing up another fifty, while Shreyas moved to 75 with a six off Will Somerville in the 84th over of the innings after which the day’s play was called off early due to poor light.
While Iyer will be looking for his maiden century, the main aim for the Indian batters will be to get to a total of 350-plus at least.
