'Don't think we could've done anything differently' - Ajinkya Rahane defends timing of declaration in Kanpur Test

The first Test match between India and New Zealand resulted in a draw. Ajaz Patel and Rachin Ravindra displayed great promise on the pitch to hold the fort of the side. Owing to their resilience at the end, the Kanpur Test was drawn.

However, the timing of India’s declaration on day four has been questioned by many. India was in a spot of bother on day four after having lost early wickets. But debutant Shreyas Iyer stood firm and stitched in some important partnerships. The hosts declared at 234-7 with less than half an hour’s play left.

When asked about the same, India’s stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane said that the team tried its best. He praised the players for their performances and reckoned that there was nothing they could have done differently.

“Not really, we tried our best. They played really well. I think the way we came back in the second session was good. The fast bowlers too bowled really well. We wanted to get that partnership going, put some runs on board. Saha and Axar batted really well. Before that Shreyas and Ashwin’s partnership was crucial. We wanted to bowl four overs yesterday and 90-95 in all. I don’t think we could have done anything differently,” Rahane said in the post-match presentation.

Whilst the game, the players and umpires were seen having a chat quite a few times. When asked about it, Rahane asserted, “The chat with the umpires was about the light. As a fielding team, you want to bowl more overs, as a batting unit you don’t want to bat in that situation. The chat was about the light, but umpires made the call and I thought they were right.”

On his Test debut, Iyer impressed the cricketing fraternity with his knocks. He registered a belligerent century in the first innings and followed it up with a 65 runs knock in the second innings. Rahane thus spoke about him and also the probable changes in the side for the next Test.

“I am really happy for Shreyas. He had to wait a long time for his Test debut. He batted really well. The way he works, his record in first-class cricket is really good.”

“Virat is coming back for the next game. We’ll have to wait and see till the Mumbai game. I am not going to make any comments but the management will make a call,”  Rahane added.