IND vs NZ: 1st Test, Day 1 Review – Iyer-Jadeja’s stand and Jamieson headline opening day
The Indian side ended Day 1 at a commanding 258/4. Three Indian batsmen scored half-centuries, with debutant Shreyas Iyer hogging the spotlight by scoring a superb 75*. For the New Zealand side, it was a tough day with the ball. Kyle Jamieson scalped 3 wickets, while Tim Southee picked up a solitary wicket. The Kiwi spinners could not pick up even a single wicket and proved to be ineffective. On that note, let us take a look at the 3 talking points of the day.
3) Kyle Jamieson rips through the Indian top order
Right arm pacer Kyle Jamieson was outstanding with the red cherry in hand on Day 1. The tall fast bowler scalped 3 wickets in the 15.2 overs that he bowled, and gave away 47 runs in the process. Jamieson first removed Mayank Agarwal, as the opener edged the Black Caps’ pacer to Tom Blundell behind the stumps.
Shubman Gill then had his stumps dislodged by a superb incoming delivery from the 26-year-old. Jamieson’s final scalp of the day was that of Indian skipper Ajinkya Rahane. To a short delivery, Rahane went for the cut shot and chopped the ball back onto the stumps.
2) Shubman Gill makes a statement with a half-century
Shubman Gill played some gorgeous shots in his 93-ball stay out in the middle. The Indian opener scored a superb 52 for the Indian side. Gill put on a partnership of 61 runs with senior-pro Cheteshwar Pujara for the second wicket, and struck 5 fours and a six in his innings. And with this knock, Gill has made a statement of intent on the first day of the first Test.
1) Shreyas Iyer sizzles on Test debut
The first day belonged to Shreyas Iyer. The right-handed batsman scored a classic 75* off 136 deliveries on Test debut and played a key role in helping India to the driver’s seat on Day 1. Iyer struck a total of 7 fours and 2 sixes in his knock.
And, Iyer forged an excellent undefeated partnership of 113 runs with Ravindra Jadeja for the 5th wicket as India ended the first day in a position of strength. And for a debutant, Iyer did not display any nerves out in the middle.
