For pure cricket fans, the longest format of the game remains the best, as India and New Zealand proved in the first Test at Kanpur. It was a cracking five-day contest between the finalists of the ICC World Test Championship 2021. The match was almost in India’s pockets, but a remarkable performance from the debutant Rachin Ravindra earned New Zealand a hard-fought draw.
Indian batters were not at the best of their form, and it was a debutant, Shreyas Iyer, who provided them with a solid first-innings total with a century in his debut innings. New Zealand openers replied with a great partnership, until the first wicket went down for 151. It was then that the Indian spinners, Ashwin and Axar, stormed through the New Zealand batting unit. Axar picked up his fifth five-wicket haul in five Test matches. The Indian batters struggled again in the second innings, which was a sign of worry until Iyer provided a solid performance, along with Saha to save India. New Zealand were nine down at the end of the fifth day, and the match resulted in a draw.
The Indian camp would have wanted to win the match, and their bowlers showed great discipline to almost win it for them. On the other hand, the Indian middle-order looked awfully out of form, which included the two senior players, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. This is a sign of worry for the Indian Test team, and with Virat Kohli coming in for the second Test, there is a selection headache for Rahul Dravid and Kohli.
Man of the hour – Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer was rightly adjudged as the Player of the Match for his fantastic performance in his debut Test match for India. Iyer, who was brought into the team in place of Kohli for the first Test, had a golden opportunity, and he grabbed it with both hands, batting beautifully in both innings. Iyer was highly impressive in the first innings, coming to bat in a tricky situation and batting skillfully to score his maiden Test century off 171 balls, which included 13 fours and two sixes. With another gritty knock in the second inning, Iyer has now sealed his spot in the XI for the second Test.
Pujara and Rahane’s poor form a big concern
Indian Test captain, Virat Kohli, is available for the second Test match in Mumbai, which presents a huge problem for the selection panel. Both the senior men in the Indian batting unit, Pujara and Rahane, have performed poorly, and have struggled to find form in the previous 12 months. Either of them must make way for Kohli, and this will be a huge decision for the newly appointed Head Coach, Dravid, and his team.
Cheteshwar Pujara
The solid number three batter of the Indian Test team, Pujara, has been awfully out of form in the last 12 months. Pujara has played 26 innings in that period, and he has managed to score just 702 runs at a poor average of 28.08. Pujara has been getting out early or has been scoring in the mid-thirties or forties. He hasn’t been able to convert these innings into big ones as he used to during his prime. His highest score in this period is 91, and he hasn’t managed to score a single century. It is a sign of worry for a number three batter in red-ball cricket. When it comes to Pujara, this is the worst phase of his career, and he is one of the batters who might give way to Kohli in the second Test.
Ajinkya Rahane
The Indian Test team’s full-time vice-captain, and captain in the first Test, Ajinkya Rahane, is also a batter struggling for form. Rahane managed to score 35 in the first innings and just four in the second innings against New Zealand in Kanpur. While Rahane has been an excellent leader, his batting hasn’t been up to the mark in the past year. Rahane has been given plenty of opportunities to prove his ability and has been backed by the skipper as well, but his numbers in the last 12 months have been very poor, and his place in the second Test match is in danger. During this period, Rahane has managed to score just 592 runs in 25 innings at an average of 24.66. His batting form has been a serious concern, and with plenty of players knocking on the door for the middle-order spot, Rahane’s career is in concern. He might well be replaced in the second Test, as Kohli makes a comeback into the team, with Iyer holding down his number five spot.
Probable changes:
Virat Kohli
Kohli will walk into the team and take his number four spot. Kohli hasn’t been at the best of his form, but he has still managed to maintain his average above 50. Kohli has played some crucial knocks for Team India, and he has been the pillar of this batting unit. Kohli has a stellar record at Wankhede, scoring 433 runs in six innings. He averages 72 at the venue with 235 being his highest score. Kohli is most likely to replace one of his senior batters in Pujara and Rahane.
Mohammed Siraj
The pace bowler from Hyderabad made his mark in the Test circuit with some crucial performances for India. Siraj has so far played nine matches and picked up 30 wickets, averaging 29.40. Siraj is likely to replace Ishant Sharma, who looked below par in the first Test. Siraj’s bowling style will be very beneficial on the hard wicket of Wankhede, and he should bring in a lot of stability in the Indian bowling unit.
KS Bharat
K.S. Bharat should make his debut due to an injury to Saha during the first Test. If Pujara misses out, he is likely to bat at number three for India. The selection for this Test match is a tricky one, and the availability of Kohli has increased the selection headache for the Indian Cricket Team.
Probable India XI
Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, K.S. Bharat, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara/Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.