India vs New Zealand 1st Test: Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin heroics in vain as New Zealand hold on for nail-biting draw

India were denied victory by New Zealand in the first Test in Kanpur on Monday after debutant Rachin Ravindra and Ajaz Patel batted out 52 balls in fading light. Towards the end of an enthralling final day, the umpires checked the light meter after every over as the Indian fielders hurried and rushed to get through as many overs as possible.

In the end, India were able to bowl the mandatory overs but light did not allow them to press for victory by taking that final New Zealand wicket. There was plenty of Kiwi resistance earlier as well with the likes of Tom Latham, William Somerville and Kane Williamson doing their bit to thwart India’s efforts for an opening Test victory.

India, without six of their Test regulars, did well to dominate in Kanpur against the World Test Champions but at the end, they had to settle for a draw despite some desperate attempts. Thoughts would also go back to that partnership between Wriddhiman Saha and Axar Patel when the pair could have perhaps looked for quicker runs and given their bowlers a bigger target and more overs to operate with. But that was not the only reason why New Zealand escaped with their first draw in India since 2010-11.

IND vs NZ, 1st TEST: Day 5 Highlights

Shreyas Iyer became the first India batter to score a hundred and a half-century on Test debut while Ashwin overtook Harbhajan Singh’s tally to now settle in behind Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev among India’s top wickettakers in Test cricket. He also now has the most wickets for India in Tests versus New Zealand.

New Zealand survive and it’s a DRAW in Kanpur.

Scorecard – https://t.co/WRsJCUhS2d #INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/TDTrEcl9ec

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 29, 2021

It was tough work for India. The pitch did not deteriorate dramatically and there was neither devious turn nor invariable bounce for the trio of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. New Zealand’s batsmen, to their credit, offered stern resistance in the first two sessions.

Tom Latham, who had anchored New Zealand’s first innings with a classy 95, was once again an epitome of discipline and concentration. He would have been gutted with himself after not convincing Will Young to review that LBW decision two seconds earlier on Sunday but on Monday, he was stubborn in defence and watched from the other end as nightwatchman William Somerville frustrated the Indian bowlers.

William Somerville, who had resisted for 52 deliveries in the first innings, was sent in at No.3 after New Zealand lost Will Young late on Sunday afternoon. India would have hoped to strike early and get into the core of the Kiwis’ batting line-up but Sommerville and Latham put paid to those hopes. India failed to get a wicket in the first session and batting did look a lot easier than the visitors would have anticipated.

However, Umesh Yadav executed the perfect short ball to William Somerville after lunch and Shubman Gill took a brilliant catch in the deep to allow India to open the floodgates. But New Zealand were not going to make it easy.

Kane Williamson joined forces with a well-set Tom Latham and the pair continued to keep the Indian bowlers at bay. There was a hint of reverse swing for Umesh Yadav but Ishant Sharma, the other fast bowler in the line-up, did nothing out of the ordinary on a pitch where batsmen and bowlers had to work hard for every bit of success.

India’s spin trio, however, was relentless in its pursuit of New Zealand wickets. They were difficult to get away and rarely conceded any runs. The defending World Test Champions would have briefly harboured hopes of a stunning victory at one point but Ross Taylor found life in the middle rather difficult.

While Kane Williamson remained solid in defence, Taylor was snapped by Ravindra Jadeja on the stroke of tea. Jadeja bowled a length ball just outside off-stump and beat Taylor’s inside edge to hit him on the pads. There was a loud appeal for LBW and Taylor was so plumb out that he did not even wait for the umpire to raise his finger.

This was when things started to really happen as they so often do in final session of a final day of a Test match in India. After tea, Axar Patel got rid of Henry Nicholls while Jadeja struck to get the big fish – Kane Williamson.

Once again, Ravindra Jadeja did not even feel the need to appeal after striking Williamson on the pad. The New Zealand captain went back to play the ball on the leg side but Jadeja’s length ball came in with the arm. There was a sudden shift in energy levels for the Indian team after their shoulders had dropped following brave knocks from Tom Latham, William Somerville and Kane Williamson.

The light was fading quickly but if Rachin Ravindra and Kyle Jamieson thought they could defend their way out of trouble, they were wrong. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were sharp and kept it tight with the close-in fielders adding to the pressure. After Ashwin dismissed Tom Blundell, Ravindra and Jamieson held fort for a little over 7 overs but Jadeja accounted for the latter with another gem of a delivery to bring India on the verge of a victory.

But Rachin Ravindra, who was the second debutant in this Test alongside Shreyas Iyer, battled on for 91 deliveries while No. 11 Ajaz Patel, played out 23 deliveries as the light began to fade. It was gutsy effort from New Zealand’s batsmen and their heist was highlighted by a superb stand between Ravindra and Ajaz in a high-pressure situation.