India v New Zealand 1st Test - India Player Ratings

Wriddhiman Saha – 3/10:

The Indian wicketkeeper didn’t have much of a part to play. He was dismissed for a duck in the first inning and wasn’t required to bat in the second.

Wriddhiman Saha had a regular day behind the wickets as well keeping wickets for the two spinners who handled most of the burden with the ball.

With the team opting for an additional batsman it gives him the cushion but Saha should be ready to deliver each time he walks out to the middle.

Ravichandran Ashwin – 9/10:

The man continues to impress. Ravichandran Ashwin had another fantastic game where he had the opposition batsmen on their toes each time he ran towards them with the ball in hand.

He enhanced his reputation of an allrounder even further with the knock of 40 in the first inning which came at a really important time for the team and took them over the 300-run mark.

He picked 4 wickets in the first inning and a 6-wicket haul in the second to finish the game with 10 wickets. Ashwin during the Test also got to his 200th Test wicket becoming the second fastest bowler in the history to reach the milestone.

Ravindra Jadeja – 9/10:

Jaddu was the man in form coming into the game. He had done exceedingly well in the Duleep Trophy with dual five-wicket hauls in the final.

The left-arm spinner was the pick of the bowlers in the first inning when there was not much help for the spinners and bagged for 5 Kiwi batsmen. Apart from his bowling the team also asked him for a hand with the bat in both the innings and he responded with unbeaten 42 and 50.

His swift knock in the second inning helped the team add quick runs and put the Kiwis in as early as they could. For his all-rounder performance, Ravindra Jadeja was awarded the man of the match.

Mohammad Shami – 6/10:

Mohammad Shami’s return has strengthened the Indian pace bowling lineup further since he has the vigour to run in hard and bowl at a consistent pace on a tough day where the ball isn’t moving and he hasn’t had any success.

In the absence of Ishant Sharma, Shami took up the responsibility for the team and did what he was asked to. After a brief spell in at the start on day one he was only introduced in the last part of the day when the ball would reverse.

He made his significant contribution on the last day morning with a remarkable spell; Shami used reverse swing to great effect to return with 2/18 in 8 overs during which he bowled as many as 39 dot balls.

Umesh Yadav – 3/10:

There was not much the faster bowlers could do and Umesh Yadav bowled just 15 overs in the first inning and 8 overs in the second inning.

He got India the first breakthrough with his initial spell on day 1 and troubled the Kiwi batters but didn’t have any success thereafter.

While the conditions weren’t conducive Umesh with little more application could have definitely scalped a batsman or two. He has to do better in the coming games to ensure he holds onto his place even if Ishant is fit and available again.