Ind vs NZ 1st Test, Day 1 Highlights: India reach 258/4 at stumps

Check highlights of India vs New Zealand 1st Test, Day 1 which is taking place in Kanpur on November 25.

Shreyas Iyer slams fifty on Test debut on Day 1 of the 1st Test in Kanpur. (Source: Twitter)

A stern examination from the Indian spin attack, led by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, will await New Zealand when the two teams face each other in the first of the two Tests at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur on Thursday (November 25). While New Zealand, the current holders of the World Test Championship, will be looking to start the second cycle on a winning note, India will be eager to turn the tables on an opposition which has a 3-2 lead in the last five Test meetings.

For the hosts, who will be the without the services of Virat Kohli (returning for second Test), Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and an injured KL Rahul, it is a chance to try out younger players in the batting department with the South Africa tour immediately following.

Rahul’s absence means that the plan to play Shubman Gill in the middle order will not materialise. With Shreyas Iyer set to debut and bat in middle order, India will be banking a lot on more experienced batters in Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Mayank Agarwal to step up. The one department where India won`t be lacking in firepower will be spin. In the last match between the two teams here in 2016, Ashwin and Jadeja picked 16 of the 20 New Zealand wickets.

Overall, Ashwin became the main tormentor with 27 wickets while Jadeja had 14 to his name, leaving New Zealand in a spin. If the pitch remains the same like it was in 2016, expect Ashwin and Jadeja with Axar Patel, who picked 27 wickets in Tests against England at home earlier this year, to lead the demolition job for India with the ball.

Teams:

India (from): Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Jayant Yadav, Srikar Bharat (2nd wk) and Prasidh Krishna.

New Zealand (from): Kane Williamson (captain), Tom Latham (wk), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell (wk), Will Young, Glenn Phillips (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Kyle Jamieson, William Sommerville, Ajaz Patel, Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra.

25 November 2021

16:41 IST

Iyer, Jadeja shine for India on Day 1 of first Test

What a debut for Shreyas Iyer. He did not look in any sort of trouble today. No nerves at all. Played his strokes and did not let the pressure get to him after India were struggling at the fall of Rahane's wicket. He was supported ably by Ravindra Jadeja, who must bat higher up the order in Tests. He has got an opportunity in Kanpur and has used it well. 

NZ could not bowl six overs today due to bad light. We still don't have any official word of whether play would start early tomorrow to compensate for the overs lost. However, it is difficult to start the play early during winters in northern India as the cities are usuall covered with fog/smog. 

Time to take your leave. It was wonderful to have you all with us in this coverage. Please join us tomorrow at 9.30 am IST on our live blog. Have a nice day and good bye. 

16:26 IST

Stumps, Day 1

India take the light and Iyer, Jadeja walk back to the dressing room. The light depleted in last half an hour and umpires decided it was too dim to play cricket, offered light to batter and they took it. 

India in strong position here after losing four wickets. 

IND 258/4 after 84 overs