Team India batsman Shreyas Iyer made use of the opportunity with both hands, scoring a much-needed half-century when his team needed the most. He became the 303rd male Indian cricketer to play Test cricket when he was handed over the Test cap by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar.
Incidentally, Iyer had earned his maiden Test call during the 2017 Test series against Australia in Dharamsala, however, he didn’t get any game time. Five years down the line, Shreyas Iyer had made his Test debut with regular skipper Virat Kohli rested.
And the batsman from Mumbai has grabbed the opportunity with both hands with a timely fifty with big guns like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane back in the hut. Shreyas Iyer started slow to begin and watched the bowlers close before unleashing his natural game.
Twitter were certainly happy with Shreyas Iyer’s outing in the first match and they showered praise on the middle-order batsman.
Here are some reactions:
Congratulations on your Test debut and half century @ShreyasIyer15 👏 All the hard work you’ve put in has paid off bro 🤗🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/YKMLv5MtrG
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) November 25, 2021
Iyer doing so well on debut should put pressure on Rahane too. It was an opportunity and Iyer has grabbed it with both hands.
— Ashish Magotra (@clutchplay) November 25, 2021
People wished for his injury and death. But god is with him. A good start to the test career for Shreyas❤️❤️ #INDvNZ
— अंजू #टीमŕ¤ŕ¤ľŕ¤°ŕ¤¤ (@Deep_Point_) November 25, 2021
Good innings from Shreyas Iyer. 50 now and 100 loading as well. He will end up having at least 2 đź’Żs to his name by the end of the series.#INDvNZ https://t.co/QqLBYTcDYB
— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) November 25, 2021
50 on debut for Shreyas Iyer. Nicely done
— Abhimanyu Bose (@bose_abhimanyu) November 25, 2021
That was a very watchable half-century from Iyer. #INDvNZ
— Sreshth Shah (@sreshthx) November 25, 2021
Good to see Shreyas Iyer scoring a 50 here on his debut, he might have some issues against quality pace but he has always improved himself as a player. Make this start count, Iyer.
— Bhawana (@bhawnakohli5) November 25, 2021
Fifty for Iyer. A fine knock indeed.
Here's one cricketer who seems to divide ICT fans right down the middle 🙂
I meant his merits as a batter.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) November 25, 2021
Good start to Shreyas' test career. A fifty which has come in a tricky situation.
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) November 25, 2021
Shreyas Iyer bails India after top-order fails to capitalise the starts
Opting to bat first, the host lost Mayank Agarwal early to be at 21/1 before Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara bailed the side out with a 61-run stand to go to lunch unscathed.
But Kyle Jamieson broke Gill’s defense moments after lunch to dismiss him after a well-made 52. Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane also looked in complete control of things before Tim Southee induced an away shot from Pujara, finding the edge in the process.
Rahane also gave away his wicket after doing all the hard work of getting set. With 145/4, a lot depends on how debutant Shreyas Iyer fares as India look to post a daunting total on the scoreboard.
Iyer has successfully passed the first part of his job with a fifty and will now hope to convert it to a big hundred.
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