Wasim Jaffer, a domestic cricket veteran, says that the Indian batsmen need to carry forward their starts and put a big total on the board if they want to bounce back in the Test series against New Zealand, otherwise it will be extremely difficult for them to level the series. India faced a 10-wicket defeat by the hosts in the opening Test as the pace trio of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Kyle Jamison dismantled India’s line up.
“Virat has a lean patch for a while, so I am expecting him to come back stronger. Pujara needs some runs under his belt. Most importantly they need to convert their starts into three figures, if that doesn’t happen and if we don’t put score of 350-400 runs then it is difficult,” Jaffer said. “In 200-250 (runs) you can’t win a Test match unless there is much help from the pitch. When we bat first or bat second, we need to score 400-450 runs.”
Jafar is currently coaching a side in the ongoing DY Patil T20 Cup. He also felt that there is no connection between them getting bundled out for below 200 in the first Test and their number one rank in the Test.
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“They kept our run-rate in check and kept our batsmen under pressure for long periods. I felt that in the first innings the conditions were favourable for bowlers, but they worked out an strategy of bouncers and we should have batted better in the second innings. To get out both times under 200 is unlike the number one Test team,” he said.
However, he believed that India would bounce back as they have done it in the past as well.
“There is no doubt that they India will come back hard in the next Test (at Christchurch), which they should and they have always done that in the past. Whenever they have been put under pressure, they have bounced back very strongly. I’m expecting the same thing,” Wasim Jaffer added.
“Rohit (Sharma) is not there and he is a seasoned player and India actually missed him. Anybody who gets a chance, Shubhman or Prithvi, it’s a crucial very test match for them,” he concluded.
