India can’t be regarded as a great team till they start winning in places like New Zealand and England: Michael Vaughan

Another overseas Test and another opportunity squandered to stamp their authority as the No. 1 Test side in the world, this is how one can sum up the first day of the second Test at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, for Virat Kohli’s men. On a day that started with promise after Prithvi Shaw laid into the Kiwi new-ball bowlers and provided the Men in Blue with a brilliant start, India gave away the opportunity to take the ascendancy courtesy their over-eagerness in showing intent.

Earlier New Zealand won the toss (again) and on what looked like a green mamba, had no hesitation in putting India in. But, contrary to expectations, the ball did not jag around corners, and whenever the Kiwis erred in their lengths, Prithvi Shaw took a full toll, unleashing his sumptuous back-foot punches and on-drives. But one shot proved too many and the opener fell soon after scoring his 2nd half-century courtesy a blinder of a catch by Tom Latham in the slip cordon.

Two other batsmen- Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari- scored half-centuries and like Shaw, they were also guilty of throwing their wickets away as India lost their last six wickets for 52 runs to get bowled out for 242. The Kiwis finished the day at 0/63, affirming their place in the driver’s seat.

Michael Vaughan tweets on India’s performance in New Zealand

Following another listless day in an overseas Test, questions have galore around India’s No.1 rank status and former England captain Michael Vaughan is the latest to join the bandwagon. Vaughan took to his Twitter account where he wrote that India won’t be regarded as a ‘great Test team’ unless they start winning in countries like England and New Zealand.

“NZ giving India a lesson in how to play in conditions where the ball moves through the air … They can’t be regarded as a great team till they start winning in places like NZ & England ..” Vaughan tweeted.

NZ giving India a lesson in how to play in conditions where the ball moves through the air … They can’t be regarded as a great team till they start winning in places like NZ & England .. #NZvsIND

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 29, 2020

Meanwhile, Hanuma Vihari paid tribute to New Zealand bowlers for their consistency but also admitted that most of the dismissals were because of batsmen playing reckless shots.

“They bowled in good areas and knew what to expect from this track. Prithvi set the tone, Pujara spent time. All dismissals happened at wrong time. None of the dismissals were because of the pitch. Mostly it was because of batsmen’s error. Pitch was fair,” Vihari told reporters after the end of the first day.