Team India are currently taking on New Zealand in the first Test of the two-match Test series in Kanpur. while India managed to post 345 runs in the first innings, they restricted New Zealand within 296 as well. However, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja stole the limelight after removing Rachin Ravindra as well.
It was his 23rd over when Ravindra Jadeja claimed his first scalp of the innings. Rachin Ravindra came forward while trying to play in on the offside but the ball pitched and went past the batsman’s bat and pad which eventually hit the stumps.
READ HERE: Shaun Tait explains why speedsters struggle to bowl 150+kmph
While New Zealand openers managed to steady the ship with the loss of any wickets, R Ashwin dismissed Will Young and provided the first breakthrough. However, Axar Patel once again troubled the New Zealand batsmen. While he dismissed the veteran batsman Ross Taylor edging to KS Bharat before Henry Nicholls got out by lbw after missing a sweep as well. Tom Latham, however, was the fifth wicket to fall, who has missed his century by just 5 runs, stumped by KS Bharat off Patel as well.
Meanwhile, this was the sixth successive innings of him taking 4+ wickets in a Test inning. And, no other Indian bowler has taken this in more than four consecutive innings. Ravindra Jadeja bowled the debutant Rachin Ravindra and before the stumps, Team India scored 14 for 1 in their second innings as well.
READ HERE: Shaun Tait explains why speedsters struggle to bowl 150+kmph
Axar Patel said: “It’s a dream start, in fact this is a dream within a dream start for me. No, it (Test cricket) isn’t that easy. Was a hard grind today. They didn’t lose any wickets yesterday and the talk was to keep it tight, don’t try for wickets every ball, just look to be patient. I was sticking to the basics and using the crease a bit. My round-arm deliveries were getting something out of the track and I was optimising that a lot. That’s what worked for me. The track is getting slower and there has been more turn now. Variable bounce is also increasing but still think that runs can be made if the batters apply themselves.”
