“That is a massive accomplishment” – Aakash Chopra on New Zealand seamers taking 17 wickets in IND vs NZ 2024 1st Test

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra lauded New Zealand’s fast bowlers after their eight-wicket win against India in the opening Test match at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The Kiwis’ seamers were right on the money in the first innings, skittling India out at 46, which is their lowest-ever score in home Test matches.

Matt Henry was the pick of the bowlers, returning with 5-15 whereas William O’Rourke bagged 4-22. Furthermore, Henry and O’Rourke scalped three wickets each in the second innings whereas Tim Southee bagged two wickets in the whole Test match.

On the other hand, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma misread the pitch as the hosts played an extra spinner in Kuldeep Yadav ahead of Akash Deep.

“What did New Zealand do right? A telling fact was how would you try to win in India? You think you will win through spin only as there isn’t that much help for fast bowlers here. In fact, you get an extra spinner and come with a lot of preparation. Their fast bowlers picked up 17 wickets. I think that is a massive accomplishment,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

Chopra noted that New Zealand pacers taking 17 wickets was not expected in Indian conditions, which are more known to assist the spinners.

“It was still okay on the first day when 10 wickets fell as the ball was seaming and swinging. However, seven second-innings wickets also went to fast bowlers. The spinners took only three wickets. I thought that was a huge victory. We had less expectations of that happening,” Chopra observed.

On the other hand, Devon Conway scored a fine knock of 91 runs in the first innings whereas Rachin Ravindra scored a magnum opus knock of 134 runs. Ravindra also scored an unbeaten 39 in the run-chase of 107 in the second essay.

“Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway’s batting, and Will Young in both the innings. I thought these three batters showed excellent application, that you can play and stay at the crease. They had a game plan against spin and they didn’t surrender quickly. When you come from Sri Lanka, you don’t get scared in these conditions,” he said.

“That confidence was seen in this batting order. Another thing that makes this team different is their discipline and their catching. If you leave aside Tom Blundell, he made one or two blunders, they were diving and taking catches. I remember Devon Conway’s catch in the first innings, Matt Henry’s catch, and then Ajaz Patel,” Chopra elaborated.

The second Test match between India and New Zealand will be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune from Thursday onwards.