Former India cricketer turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has slammed Team India for not declaring early in their second innings on Day 4 at Kanpur against New Zealand. He said that the decision cost them a chance to win the first Test on Monday.

Despite taking a lead of 250 in the 71st over of the innings, they waited more time and put up a target of 284. On Day 5, the Kiwis could only reach 165 but survived till the end and took the team to a draw as their last batting pair of Rachin Ravindra and Ajaz Patel successfully faced Indian bowlers.

Speaking about this on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said: “They should have declared earlier, in my opinion. Could have declared earlier, could have accelerated a bit more. When you don’t do that, you generally regret that on the last day.”That’s exactly what happened. You had runs but not the overs; one wicket was required and you couldn’t take that.”

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He continued: “This is the interesting thing about the World Test Championship that thereare 12 points for a win, nothing for losses, six for a tie, and four for a draw. If you are getting just four points in a Test at home, then with percentage points [system] you got just 33%. That’s not good enough because it’s possible that some series might get canceled due to Covid, anything can happen.”In such a scenario these percentage points matter a lot. And in home conditions, you have to grab them 100%. If you don’t then you’ll be in trouble.”

However, Aakash Chopra applauded the debutant Rachin Ravindra for his all-important 91-ball 18 to save the match. He believes this knock will give him self-confidence. The second Test will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, starting from December 3.

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“In the end, our Ravindra [Jadeja] was trying to dismiss the opposition’s [Rachin] Ravindra and our [Axar] Patel was trying to get their [Ajaz] Patel out. And both of ours were unsuccessful because both Ajaz Patel and Rachin Ravindra stood strong and took home a draw… What he (Rachin Ravindra) did at the end – sometimes it takes whole careers to do something like that. I don’t remember Rahane batting for this long to save the match. He has such a big career but these opportunities are quite rare. And when you succeed from here, your reputation and self-confidence sky-rockets. He showed brilliant application and tenacity,” Aakash Chopra concluded.