New Zealand outperformed India in the first test match of the series. Ajay Jadeja reflected on the results, saying he did not expect the visitors to stun the home team in such a manner. He could not believe that the Kiwis would defeat the mighty Indians on their home turf in the very first test match of the series.
After the first day got called off due to rain, India got bundled out for 46 runs in the first innings. The visitors stunned India in the very first innings of the test series. Matt Henry and debutant Willian ORourke ran through the Indian batting lineup. Indian batsmen found it difficult to deal with the pace and bounce on the wicket.
India tried to fight back in the second innings with a brilliant century by Sarfaraz Khan and Rishab Pant’s innings of 99 runs but New Zealand won the game by 8 wickets in the end chasing a mere target of 107 runs in the 4th innings. Ajay Jadeja was shocked to see a foreign team come to India and dominate in the way that New Zealand did.
Ajay Jadeja Did Not Expect This Result
Ajay Jadeja did not expect this result. He expected India to do better as New Zealand had not won a test match for a very long time.
“It’s a massive result for them, there is no doubt about that because they last won in India in 1988. I didn’t think before the start of this match that this result could happen, based on any evaluation, but now it’s not only thinking, it has been made realistic,” he said
“If there is any team to beat in the world, it’s India now. There used to be an era when the West Indies and then Australia had their dominance. The Indian team is that team now. If any team in the world wants to get recognition, they can reach there by beating India,” Ajay Jadeja observed.
Team India have not lost a test series at home since 2012. Their last defeat came back in 2012 against England. Ajay Jadeja also said that this win for New Zealand will act as a booster for them and they would feel much more confident going ahead.
“Beating India in India is a massive win. It will be a sort of booster for them. It doesn’t matter to this team in any case. It’s a team that remains under the radar. It’s a well-planned team,” Ajay Jadeja said.
The former cricket player turned pundit stated that the Kiwis won as a result of a strong team effort and that Kane Williamson’s probable availability for the second Test in Pune will only help them.
“If you see the result as well, there are only two or three players like (Glenn) Phillips or (Daryl) Mitchell whose contribution you are not seeing. A team defeated you. They don’t depend much on an individual in any case. However, now Williamson will also join them when they go to Pune,” Jadeja noted
Because of his 134 and undefeated 39-run knocks in the first and second innings, respectively, Rachin Ravindra was selected as the Player of the Match. Matt Henry and William O’Rourke were the visitors’ standout ball players, but Devon Conway, Tim Southee, and Will Young also made significant contributions.