OPINION
Follow UsA scintillating batting performance by India propelled them to 258/4 on Day 1 of the first Test match against the Kiwis at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. The last Test match between the two sides at the same venue lasted for five days, with the Indian side registering a 197-run win courtesy of an all-around performance by Ravindra Jadeja.
Can Shreyas Iyer score a century on debut?
In the absence of Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane is leading the side and had no hesitation in opting to bat first after winning the toss. With the Indian side tottering at 106/3, Shreyas Iyer walked in to bat at number five. The right-handed batter last featured in a first-class game in 2019 and sealed his place in the playing XI on the exploits in the white-ball format.
The 26-year old anchored the innings with a scintillating knock of an unbeaten 75 runs to power the team in a comfortable position at stumps. While he notched up a maiden half-century on debut, Shreyas can join an elite list of players to score a hundred on debut for India. In 2018, Prithvi Shaw scored a century on debut against the Windies at Rajkot, which was the last instance of a debutant notching up a three-figure score.
Ravindra Jadeja continues to shine
One of the most consistent performers in recent times, Ravindra Jadeja, scored 791 runs in 24 innings at an average of 43.94 since 2019. The all-rounder has been lethal with the ball, pouching 37 wickets in 29 innings at an economy rate of 2.7 runs per over. The southpaw is currently batting on 50 and will look to score the second hundred of his Test career to power the Indian side to a mammoth first innings total. In 2018, he scored his maiden ton against the Windies at his home ground, Rajkot and will look to replicate similar heroics on Day 2.
New Zealand's sublime record in India
While the Kiwis are gearing up for a mountain to climb in the first innings, the team can take solace from their recent performances in India on Day 2. The Blackcaps, since 2016, have an average runs per wicket ratio of 34.9, which is the second-best by an opposition batting on Day 2 in India. The team will be heavily reliant on their experienced batters, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, to guide the team through in alien conditions.
Will it turn on Day 2?
The first day of the Test was conducive for batting but it will be interesting to see how the wicket behaves on Day 2 with plenty of footmarks after 84 overs of play. "There would be some amount of moisture as you expect in the month of November in this part of the world. However, I can assure you that it is a firm track and won't break down easily, " Shiv Kumar, the pitch curator at Green Park told PTI.
