The first Test match between India and New Zealand of the two-match series ended in a nail-biting draw. Rachin Ravindra and Ajaz Patel’s 50-ball stand for the last wicket helped the Blackcaps to set the match for a draw.
India’s interim captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and chose to bat in Kanpur. The first innings saw the Indian batsmen in a decent form as Shubman Gill (52), Shreyas Iyer (105) and Ravindra Jadeja (50) scored runs. On Day 2, Iyer became the 16th Indian cricketer to score a Test century on debut. India scored 345 in the first innings, Tim Southee pocketed five wickets and restricted the host below 400.
The Kiwis had a blistering start with the openers, Will Young (89) and Tom Latham (95) had a 151-run partnership. Latham departed when he was five runs shy of his Test hundred. The rest of the New Zealand batting line-up didn’t contribute significantly with the bat. Axar Patel got another five-wicket haul on Indian soil and helped India bundle the visitors below the 300-run mark.
In the second innings, the Indian batsmen struggled to keep up with the pace duo of Jamieson and Southee. The top four Indian batsmen couldn’t contribute much as India lost five wickets before the team’s score could reach 100. Shreyas Iyer (65) stood once again and handled the Indian innings along with Ravichandran Ashwin (34). Wriddhiman Saha (61) came out to bat with a stiffed neck and scored a half-century. Vital contributions from Iyer, Saha and Ashwin guided India to set up a target of 283 in the dying hours of Day 4.
In the fourth innings, Will Young fell prey to Ashwin on Day 4 itself. Latham (52) stood like a rock once again on the crease and contributed with the bat along with William Somerville (36). In the second and third sessions, the Kiwis witnessed a massive debacle which turned the game upside down after an impressive first session. Rachin Ravindra’s (18*) blockathon in the last session gave a chance to the tourists to save the game for their team. Ravindra survived with the number 11 batsman Ajaz Patel (2*) for almost nine overs to set the game for a draw.
Iyer was adjudged Man of the Match for his 105 and 65 in the first and second innings respectively.