Team India failed to dismiss the New Zealand team on a cracking pitch on the fifth day of the first Test on Monday, but captain Ajinkya Rahane praised his players and said that they tried their best. Mumbai-born Ejaz Patel (2*) and Karnataka-born Rachin Ravindra (18*) batted 8.4 overs after the 9th wicket fell amid deteriorating light. The second and final match of the series will be played in Mumbai from December 3.
Ajinkya Rahane has been battling poor form for some time now. He praised Test debutant Shreyas Iyer but did not say which player will be included in the team in place of Virat Kohli in the next Test. Rahane said, 'I am very happy for Shreyas. He had to wait a long time for his debut. The way he was batting, first-class cricket has been fantastic. Virat is making a comeback in the next match. But the team management has to decide on who will get a place in the playing-11.
Good comeback after the first session
Ajinkya Rahane said, 'It was a very good match of cricket, New Zealand played a good game. We made a very good comeback after the first session.' He said that I don't think we could have done anything different than this. Rahane was asked whether he could have declared the innings early in the final session on the fourth day, but he refused. In the last half hour of the match on Monday, the umpires used light meters to measure the light after each over. Rahane said that the right decision was taken because of the situation.
The lower-order batsmen played well
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson praised the lower-order batsmen, including nightwatchman William Somerville. Somerville scored 36 runs while spending 125 minutes at the crease. He said, 'The match was very close throughout the match. Overall a great match. All three outcomes were possible. We showed great spirit while batting throughout the day. Great experience for Rachin, Ejaz, and Somerville.
The captain of the Kiwi team said, 'Both fast bowlers Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson performed brilliantly. It was an incredible effort to bowl long spells. We know this Indian team is very strong. He said that overall the experience of this match was good. We have to prepare for a different pitch in Mumbai.
