The final day of the 1st Test match between India and New Zealand proved why Test cricket is the ultimate format of the game. At the end of the 1st session on Day 5, New Zealand were cruising with their scorecard reading 79/1 and were looking solid.

But then, in the second session, the Kiwis lost 3 quick wickets and were reduced to 125/4. And, a flurry of wickets in the third session completely flipped the game in India’s favour. New Zealand were reduced to 155/9, and an Indian victory seemed inevitable at that point.

The final batting pair of Rachin Ravindra and Ajaz Patel had to play out more than 8 overs, and with the Indian spinners baying for their blood, it seemed a near-impossible task. But then, both Ravindra and Patel hung on defiantly, and New Zealand eked out a fighting draw. And, going into the second Test, the scoreline reads 0-0.

Going into the 2nd Test, two pillars of the Indian batting lineup, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane have their backs against the wall. The two veterans have been woefully short of runs, and both have not scored a single century in the whole of 2021.

And the splendid arrival of Shreyas Iyer (where the batter scored a century on debut) has made the selection process tougher. And, to add to all this, skipper Virat Kohli will be back for the 2nd Test, and the question of who will make way for Kohli is one that has hogged the limelight in recent times.

For New Zealand, even though the openers did a good job with the bat in the 1st Test, the Kiwi middle-order still does not bear a ‘confident look’. Veteran Ross Taylor fell cheaply in both innings of the 1st Test, Henry Nicholls looked clueless against spin, and even the legendary Kane Williamson could not kick on and get a big score in both innings.

So, the 1st Test had a lot of drama, the momentum swung both ways, and in the end the match resulted in a stalemate. What does the 2nd Test between these two top sides have in st.