The Test series between New Zealand and India got underway in Wellington today with the visitors getting a chance to bat first. The testing conditions in New Zealand got the better of the Indian batsmen as the team has lost half of its wickets with just 122 runs on the board. Fortunately for the Indian team, rain interrupted the proceedings and there was no play possible after the culmination of the 55th over.
Looking at the way New Zealand performed on the opening day of the first Test match, it seems like the Kiwis will run away with the Test match. On the side notes though let us have a look at the five biggest talking points from Day 1 at the Basin Reserve.
Ravi Shastri’s big co-incidence
The first major talking point from this Test match was the return of Ravi Shastri to Wellington. The current Indian coach had made his Test debut as a player at this very venue and co-incidentally, the date that the Test match between New Zealand and India began in 1961 was also 21st February. 39 years have passed since that day and today, Shastri stands as one of the biggest names in the history of Indian cricket.
Rishabh Pant gets a place in the playing XI
While many fans expected the right-handed batsman, Wridhhiman Saha to feature in the Indian playing XI as the wicket-keeper, the team management took the opposite way by opting to include Rishabh Pant in the side. Pant, who holds two overseas Test hundreds to his name, is currently batting in the middle along with Ajinkya Rahane.
Kyle Jamieson shines on his debut
Team India has found it very tough to tackle the 6 feet 8 inches tall Kyle Jamieson on this tour. Although he does not have much experience of playing international cricket, Jamieson has already troubled the visitors with his height and skills. He had won the Man of the Match award on his ODI debut against India. Given that he has already dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Hanuma Vihari in this match, expect Jamieson to emerge as the match-winner for New Zealand once again.
Virat Kohli took his fans back to 2014
There was a time when any fast bowler could dismiss Virat Kohli in the pace-friendly conditions by simply keeping the ball outside the off-stump. The right-handed batsman would go after the ball only to nick it and send it into the hands of the fielder standing in the slip cordon. After he dominated the English conditions, it seemed like he would reign supreme in New Zealand as well however, Jamieson dismissed him in the same fashion once again.
Colin de Grandhomme – The Silent Assassin
When you give away just 12 runs in the 11 overs you bowl, irrespective of the playing condition, you are bound to create pressure on the opposition team. Colin de Grandhomme did the exact same thing as he bowled at an economy rate of 1.09. This created pressure on the Indian team and they lost some big wickets in quick succession. Thus, de Grandhomme proved to be the silent assassin here.
