At least a couple of possibilities presented themselves to the Indian camp when they shot out New Zealand for a historic low total of 62 despite Ajaz Patel’s 10-wicket haul restricting the home team for an at par total of 325, on just the second day of the series deciding second Test match at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.
The option of imposing follow-on against New Zealand was the first choice that Virat Kohli's team could have made, which looked pragmatic since New Zealand have struggled putting on large totals on this tour and they were also without their best batsman, Kane Williamson, for this Test. The pitch was turning sharply since Day One, and the Kiwis are no great force with the bat when the ball was turning.
The other option for the Indian team was to have quickly added another 100-odd runs to take their overall lead to 363, which could have been termed as the one beyond New Zealand's reach, since they were to bat fourth and India had a three-pronged spin attack along with the relentless Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav.
But India decided to bat on and on. Probably more than what they should have, certainly more than what they did. The home team wanted to maximise the opportunity of getting to bat against the world No 1 team’s bowling line-up, garner confidence and big runs ahead of their tough tour to South Africa starting later this month.
The idea appeared justified for Indians, who had taken a 263-run lead in the first essay, to come out and bat again on the second day evening, which they ended at 69/0, ahead by 332 runs.
Repeat: at the end of the second day’s play, India were ahead by 332 runs.
About 45 minutes into the fourth day’s play on Monday, India won the Test, and subsequently the series, by 372 runs. While their batsmen did not achieve exactly what they had set out to, their bowlers continued to rule the roost as India recorded their 14th consecutive series victory at home in the longest format.
New Zealand were not as abject with the bat as they were in the first innings, making India work to get their wickets. After being reduced to 140/5 with another 400 runs to win at the end of Day Three on Sunday, it was expected from New Zealand to keep India on the field as long as possible — as they had done at Kanpur.
However, Jayant Yadav went on to claim four wickets and Ravichandran Ashwin took one more, as the Kiwis were bowled out for 167, thus handing a huge win to India by 372 runs. Both Jayant and Ashwin returned with four wickets apiece.
While the reasoning for India to bat on was spot-on, the performance was not. Mayank Agarwal, who as the lone bright spot with the bat in the first innings, followed up his 150 with another resolute knock of 62 in the second, for which he faced 108 balls and struck nine boundaries and one six. His makeshift opening partner Cheteshwar Pujara did well to make 47 from 97 balls with six boundaries and a six, but yet another opportunity to rake up a big score in favourable conditions went begging for India's No 3.
Pujara has been lacking a Test hundred for a long time now. His last Test century came at Sydney in January 2019.
Shubman Gill, who copped a few severe blows to his hands wile fielding which would have caused him a lot of pain, did well to walk out at No 3 and strike a few spectacular strokes on the third day morning. However, he is another Indian batsmen who has been lacking big scores, falling for after getting starts repeatedly. On Sunday, Gill chipped one on to Tom Latham at cover off Rachin Ravindra for easiest of catches to be dismissed for 47, for which he faced four boundaries 75 balls and hit four boundaries as well as a six.
Kohli, who himself has been lacking big runs across formats, was presented with a tired and slightly deflated New Zealand bowling line-up to punish. The India captain did well to get his eye in and get the feet moving as well. But after facing 83 deliveries in which he hit only one boundary and a six to make 36, he chopped one onto his wickets off Ravindra. Kohli could only smile after such an unfortunate end.
Ajaz, who had created history on Monday Saturday by becoming only the third bowler after Jim Laker and Anil Kumble to have taken 10 wickets in an innings, returned to haunt India once again. After dismissing the opening pair of Agarwal and Pujara, the left-arm diminutive New Zealand spinner accounted for Shreyas Iyer (14) and later on, Jayant for 6, to return with another heavy duty bowling spell of 26-3-106-4.
Kohli was dismissed right after Iyer was removed from the equation. At that stage, India were ahead by a huge margin of 480 runs. But the home team still wanted to bat on. Axar Patel bagged four sixes and three boundaries to make a rapid 41 not out from 26 balls, with his innings taking India's overall lead to 539, when the home team decided it was enough.
Ashwin drew the first blood when he trapped them in front of the wickets for six and went on to pick up a couple of more wickets in the form of Will Young (20) and Ross Taylor (6). Axar accounted for Daryl Mitchell, who battled hard for his 60 from 92 balls with seven boundaries and two sixes, while adding 73 runs for the fifth wicket with Henry Nicholls — the best partnership for New Zealand across two innings in Mumbai.
When the stumps were drawn on the third day, India stood just five wickets away from an impressive series victory against New Zealand, who needed another 400 runs over the period of two days and 180 overs to create history by becoming the first Kiwi team to beat India in their own backyard.
Devarchit Varma is a cricket writer and journalist with an experience of more than a decade, having worked at Hindustan Times (newspaper) and CricketCountry (website). Along with covering international and domestic cricket, he has also interviewed several current and former top players such as Rohit Sharma, Steve Smith, Dale Steyn, Michael Hussey, Jacques Kallis, Brendon McCullum, Shane Watson, Lasith Malinga and many more. He has also worked in other beats as a journalist in Bollywood (Reliance BigOye) and IT (SiliconIndia) industries.
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