Iyer, Jadeja give India the edge on Day 1 against New Zealand

Shreyas Iyer scored a half-century on his Test debut in Kanpur to give India a promising start in the 1^st Test against New Zealand, with the Men in Blue finishing the day at 258 for 4. Shubman Gill started the innings with a brisk half-century before Shreyas Iyer shared a 113-run stand alongside Ravindra Jadeja to put India in the ascendency at the end of the day’s play. Kyle Jamieson was the pick of the bowlers for the Kiwis, picking up three of the four wickets in his first Test match in Asian conditions.

After winning their fourth toss of the series, India opted to bat first on a dry surface that saw the odd ball keep low. Both openers were given a stern examination by the Kiwi pacers, with Kyle Jamieson in particular, troubling them using his bounce and movement off the surface. Jamieson was rewarded for his efforts in the morning session with the wicket of Mayank Agarwal, who nicked behind to the keeper for 13.

Unfortunately for the Kiwis, the pressure created by the pacers in the first hour quickly dissipated once the spinners came on, who failed to pick up a wicket across their 52 overs on day one. Shubman Gill used his feet expertly to find a couple of boundaries against Ajaz Patel, while Cheteshwar Pujara dug in at the other end to take India to a promising 82 for 1 at Lunch.

However, Kyle Jamieson struck once again in the first over after the break, getting one to nip back into Shubman Gill and rattle the stumps after an inside edge. Jamieson also troubled Cheteshwar Pujara – who was removed by Tim Southee on 26 – with a couple of short deliveries before getting the Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane to chop one back onto his stumps after a fluent 35.

India were in a spot of bother at 145 for four, but Ravindra Jadeja’s arrival steadied the ship, as the left-hander ensured India went wicketless in the final session alongside Shreyas Iyer. Iyer started tentatively in the afternoon session – scoring only 17 of 55 before Tea – but was more comfortable against the spinners after the break, taking on the fifth bowler Rachin Ravindra in a clinical fashion. India scored at more than four an over for large parts of the final session, with Iyer growing in confidence as the innings progressed and becoming the 63rd Indian batter to score a half-century on Test debut.

The Mumbai batter finished on 75* while Ravindra Jadeja reached his 50 just before the day’s play was eventually called off for bad light, with India in the driving seat at 258 for four.