New Zealand finally ended their 36-year wait for a Test win in India after defeating the hosts in the first Test of the three-match series. At the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the Kiwis got the better of the Indian cricket team by eight wickets, impressing former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja. This was also New Zealand’s third Test win in India. They are now 1-0 up in the three-match series against the hosts, and also put themselves in a strong position to win a Test series in India for the first-time ever.
Following a 0-2 Test series defeat against Sri Lanka, the New Zealand cricket team had a great start to their India tour as they bowled out the hosts for just 46 runs in the first innings. It led to India managing to wipe out the 356-run first innings deficit, but they could only set a target of 107 runs for the visitors to win. New Zealand achieved the target with ease after losing just two wickets. Young batter Rachin Ravindra was awarded player of the match for his 134-run knock in the first innings, and unbeaten 39* in the second innings to take Blackcaps home.
I didn’t think before the start of this match that this result could happen: Ajay Jadeja
Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja heaped praise on New Zealand for their convincing win over India in the first Test. Jadeja admitted that he didn’t expect the Kiwis to play this well in India. “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,” Ajay Jadeja was quoted as saying by Crictracker.
“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,” he further added. Notably, Ajay Jadeja became the new Jam Saheb o Royal of Nawanagar, the former princely state in India, which is now known as Jamnagar.