India v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Day One - 5 Talking Points

The first day of the 2nd Test between India and New Zealand saw a great competition between both the teams. The momentum shifted from one team to the other after each session.

The first session of the day belonged to the Kiwis who pushed the host on the back foot with three quick wickets. The second session was about India’s revival while the third and the last session saw New Zealand make a comeback with the help of its spinner and end the day on high.

1.Kapil Dev inaugurates Eden bell:

India’s World Cup winning skipper Kapil Dev inaugurated the new Eden bell ringing it three times to announce the start of the 2nd Test. The historic moment also marked India’s 250th Test at home.

The silver-coated bell was from Chandigarh and installed just above the sight screen at the BC Roy clubhouse end. The Lord’s Cricket Ground in London is the only other venue which has a bell. The bell at the ‘Mecca of Cricket’ is located outside the bowler’s bar and is rung for five minutes just before the start of the play.

2.No Gambhir:

Gautam Gambhir’s sudden selection in the squad caused great excitement among cricket fans. Give the kind of form he was in during the Duleep trophy, it was highly anticipated that Gautam Gambhir would find a place in the starting XI ahead of struggling Shikhar Dhawan.

However, Kohli and coach Kumble decided to go in with the same playing XI they had for the first test. Therefore, denying a chance of a comeback for Gambhir to make his Test comeback after two years.

3. Poor start:

New Zealand completely dominated India in the first session taking all three top order wickets. Indian openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan could not capitalise the advantage of batting first on a slow and low wicket.

Dhawan’s misery in the test format continued after he was dismissed for just a single run in the 2nd over of the match. Murali Vijay followed him to the pavilion after a sluggish 29 ball inning where scored just 9 runs. Both lost their wicket to Matt Henry. Captain Kohli also wasn’t able to make any impact was made to depart cheaply by Trent Boult.

4. Pujara and Rahane lead revival:

The morning session was not at all productive for India. At the time of Kohli’s departure, the hosts had batted for close to 22 over and had managed just 46 runs at the loss of 3 wickets. The Kiwi fast bowlers made full use of the first session.

But, there attempt to complete dominate India was thwarted after Pujara and Rahane combined a put 141 runs for the 4th wicket and revive India batting. The lunch session was a very frustrating time for New Zealand. Both occupied the crease for 47.3 overs and took India from 46/3 to 187 before Neil Wagner brought the breakthrough for his team in the form of Pujara (61).

5. Jeetan Patel keeps NZ in the contest:

Off-spinner Jeetan Patel, the replacement for injured Mark Craig, had a pretty successful day today. The offie ended the day with impressive 2/61 in his 21 over spell today. His victims today included two main wickets – Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma.

Patel stuck twice in two over to being back New Zealand back in the contest. He fist snapped the wicket of the struggling Rohit Sharma, getting him caught at short leg. Shortly, he added the well – set Ajinkya Rahane to his tally getting him trapped LBW.