The Indian team has given a target of 284 runs to New Zealand in the first Test match of the series (IND vs NZ 1st Test). In this match being played at Green Park, Kanpur, India declared the second innings after scoring 234 for 7 wickets. Young batsman Shreyas Iyer, who scored a century in the first innings, scored 65 runs in the second innings. He became the first Indian batsman to score a century and a half-century in a debut test match. The advice of the current coach and veteran Rahul Dravid was also important behind his great performance. Iyer himself told about this on Sunday.
Shreyas Iyer faced 125 balls in the second innings and scored 65 runs with the help of 8 fours, 1 six. He said after the fourth day's play, 'Rahul (Dravid) sir told me to bat as many balls as possible. I was determined to act on his advice. We felt 250 including a first-innings lead would have been good, so we are very happy with where we are now. Nothing special was happening with the wicket today, the ball was coming down a bit. I think it's a really good score. We have spin power, so hopefully, we will get the job done.
On making the record for becoming the first Indian to score a century and a half-century in the debut test, Iyer said, 'Yes, I knew about it. When I came back one of my friends told me about it. Many other people have done it before other teams as well but I was told that I am the first cricketer from India to make this record. Feels good but the most important thing is to win the match.
Shreyas Iyer further said, 'I was in such a situation before, not with the Indian team but with my Ranji team. The strategy was to play the entire session and play as many balls as possible. I wasn't thinking too far ahead, just focusing on the current situation.
