Xtra Time Web Desk : It was a dream debut for Shreyas Iyer as he made a brilliant unbeaten 75 on Day 1 of the First Test at Green Park on Thursday against the Kiwis. The Mumbai batsman made a flawless 113 run partnership with his compatriot Ravindra Jadeja to put Team India on 258/4 at the end of Day 1.
After opting to bat, India found themselves in trouble after Mayank Agarwal was caught fishing by Tom Blundell. Kyle Jamieson drew the first blood in the seventh over of Indian innings. Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill took India out of initial trouble, with both guiding the side to 82/1 at Lunch. Gill could have been dismissed in as early as the ninth over of the innings from Ajaz Patel, but no appeal was made for a leg-before wicket.
Gill eventually reached his half-century, but was dismissed immediately after lunch for 52. Jamieson struck for the Blackaps again, dismissing Gill to inflict a second blow for India. The side failed to recover from the blow as a bad run continued for both Pujara (26) and Ajinkya Rahane (35).
However, Debutant Shreyas Iyer, alongside Ravindra Jadeja, dug in following the quick wickets and took India to 154/4 at Tea.
Resuming the final session, Iyer and Jadeja began from where they left off and the right-handed Iyer brought up his half-century in the 68th over of the innings. Iyer and Jadeja ensured that India do not lose any more wickets before stumps on Day 1. Earlier, New Zealand made slow but steady progress in the second session of the first Test as India lost the crucial wickets of Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill at the Green Park Stadium on Thursday. At Tea on Day 1, India’s score was 154/4 with Shreyas Iyer (17*) Ravindra Jadeja (6*) unbeaten at the crease.
But the final session was massive for team India as Shereyas and Jadeja put 104 more runs on the board to take the score to 258/4 and the end of 1st day’s play.