Kanpur: On September 22, the Team India’s career defining agreement with Test Cricket started at the Green Park Stadium, Kanpur. Heading into the match which happened to be India's 500th Test, skipper Virat Kohli had said that the long home season, comprising 13 Tests, would shape the future of this team in Test Cricket.
On day 1, India started well after winning the toss but lost the plot after dominating the black caps for 48 overs. At one stage, the hosts were 154/1, but New Zealand hit back in the middle of the second session to take three quick wickets within 10 overs to reduce India to 185/4. For the addition of just 31 runs, the hosts lost the key wickets of Cheteshwar Pujara (62), Kohli (9), Murali Vijay (65). In the final session, the Black Caps piled on more misery with left arm pacer Trent Boult ripping apart the lower order with his in swinging deliveries. India finished of at 291/9 at the end of day 1.
"They got off to a great start. Kohli was a big wicket but they bat deep, so every wicket was crucial. We executed our plans reasonably well," said Mitchell Santner.
"We got out to loose shots. The wicket was deteriorating as well. We could have capitalised a bit more after tea. We really have to be patient on this wicket," said by Murali Vijay.
On Day 2, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and opener Latham counter the spin threat with aplomb. The day had started on a good note for India with overnight batsmen Ravindra Jadeja and Umesh Yadav taking them past 300 run mark both added 41 runs to the last wicket. Yadav (9) finally gloved a short ball from Neil Wagner to wicketkeeper BJ Watling and India were bowled out for 318. At the tea, the heavens opened up and the ground staff rushed in with the covers and the players dashed off the field. Kane williamson and Tom Latham looked content and confident whereas Virat and his men looked a little downcast. When the rain brought an early end to the day, New Zealand were 152/1 in 47 overs.
New Zealand were hoping to make a match of it on Day 3, but it took R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja just about 7-8 overs to bring the Kiwis down on knees and confront the harsh reality. After struggling on Day 2 against New Zealand, India were back in control of proceedings after a brilliant show by the spinners R Jadeja (5/73) and R Ashwin (4/93). The two picked all 9 wickets to fall on the 3rd day and helped the host bundle out the visitors for 262. In reply, the hosts came out with intent. Rahul started the show with a brisk hand and Murali Vijay (64*) and Cheteshwar Pujara (50*) did what they did in the first innings-build a solid partnership. The two hit individual fifties in the process and took India to 159/1 at the end of Day 3 with a heavy lead of 215 runs.
Early in the morning on Day 4, Williamson attacked with spin from both ends and his slow bowlers did not let him down. Left arm spinner Santner trapped Murli Vijay lbw for 76, ending the right hander's second century plus stand of the match with Cheteshwar Pujara (78). Kohli did not look comfortable against Santner but was dismissed by Mark Craig when attempted a slog sweep. Sodhi struck the next blow when he took the edge of Pujara's bat. Ajinkya Rahane missed his fifty but Rohit sharma and Ravindra Jadeja smashed unbeaten half centuries. Sharma who made 35 in first innings remained unbeaten on 68 whereas Jadeja who scored 42 in the first innings continued to have a good match. After that captain Kohli called the batsmen back and hence India set an improbable 434 run victory target. Needing to put off the biggest successful chase in the history of the Test cricket for an unlikely win, New Zealand wobbled early and were reeling at 93 for four at stumps still trailing by 341 runs. R Ashwin claimed his 200th Test wicket when he dismissed New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson (25) leg before.
India entered Day 5 needing six wickets and the Kiwi batsmen needed 341 runs for an improbable win. At the start Luke Ronchi and Santner provided strong resistance and provided a fitting challenge to India's spin bowling. Ronchi played a poor short to depart on Ravindra Jadeja's delivery. The reverse swing of Mohammad Shami struck twice to make it to good end to first session for India. Things panned out quickly in the post lunch session as Ashwin struck quickly to wrap up things and give India a 197 run win when New Zealand got all out at 236.
"The boys applied themselves really well. We were in a spot of bother at times. Initially we had the momentum with the bat, but a couple of soft dismissals put pressure. Jadeja and Ashwin added crucial runs to rescue us. Those 30-40 extra runs make a psychological difference. I am still pretty early in my captaincy career. I look for advice from people around me. There have been cases where we have gone on one mode and the runs were leaked. One learning that we are taking forward is when wickets aren't coming, we need to be patient. All the sides that are doing well around the world have strong lower middle orders. The tailenders also contribute. That's one area that we have improved and we need to keep working on beacuse those 30-40 extra runs could prove crucial," said Indian skipper Virat Kohli after the match.