New Zealand in chase of 284 reach 4/1 at Stumps on Day 4 after India declare on 234/7

[Firebat]

India begin Day 4 on 14/1 in their 2nd innings, with a lead of 63 runs and Cheteshwar Pujara (9*) and Mayank Agarwal (4*) at the crease.

What sort of target would India be comfortable defending?

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[SpiritOf1903]

70 is enough. Axar to chop them down within 20 overs

[Napa]

As NZ scored around 300 in the first innings, I would say 300 is the minimum target India would want to set, though 350 would be safe. Of course, Indian spinners will probably get NZ out for less than 200 in the 4th innings.

[Devadwal]

This is going to be thrilling match .

[Devadwal]

Pujar gone

[MP2011]

Pathetic Rahane gone too. And to think this loser is our captain and is guaranteed an assured spot in the team.

[Devadwal]

Rahane gone ,india is in big trouble .41-3
Rahane should dropped from next test not Iyer.

[MP2011]

Need to somehow score another 150 runs.

[Devadwal]

Repeat of WTC final ?

[praveen]

Rahane is the biggest fraud in our batting line up. Should have got dropped when Wagner made him look like a tailender in NZ.

[MP2011]

Iyer living dangerously.

[Ab Fan]

Why does Rahane play cricket?

[MP2011]

Rahane is the worst ever specialist batsman to come from Bombay. And to think this guy is leading us too.

Hats off to BCCI.

[MP2011]

Mayank gone too.

[MP2011]

Jadeja given.

[MP2011]

Will serve those prima donnas well who missed this test on pretext of being tired, when we duly lose this test.

[jeeteshssaxena]

Rahane's true worth as a captain has been revealed.
We need the GOAT Asian captain now.

[Kohli, The King of Chase]

Rahane should be thrown out ASAP. If he plays one more match, Kohli should be sacked as a captain.

No way this useless of a player keeps playing despite averaging in 30s in last 5 years

[MP2011]

What a straight drive from Ashwin! Likes of Pujara and Rahane can only dream of playing this kind of stroke.

[sindhiboy]

Southee and Jamieson have been phenomenal.
The variable bounce will make a score over 150 tough to chase.

Ajaz has been a bit disappointing

[MP2011]

Good over for us, 11 off it.

[street cricketer]

I'm not watching the game. What's happening. Is it difficult to bat or our batsmen batting like idiots?

What would be a safe total to defend?

[Ahmed216]

NZ showing why they are no.1 in the world. Such a resilient side

[Mahee]

I'm not watching the game. What's happening. Is it difficult to bat or our batsmen batting like idiots?

What would be a safe total to defend?

really good batting surface.... anything below 300, NZ should chase comfortably

[MenInG]

NZ 296
IND 345 & 84/5 (32) CRR: 2.62
Day 4: Lunch Break - India lead by 133 runs

[street cricketer]

really good batting surface.... anything below 300, NZ should chase comfortably

But you always post pessimistic in cricket lol, not sure I can trust you

[Devadwal]

Anything less than 180 NZ favourite to win
180-230 anyone can win
240 above india favourite to win

[Mesozoic]

The worst thing about the (likely) South African tour cancellation is that all these failures by washed up oldies like Rahane, Pujara and Ishant would be forgotten until the next assignment against Sri Lanka and they'll be picked again.... in the playing XI.

[Mamoon]

This should be Rahane’s farewell Test. I can only laugh at those who wanted this timid coward to replace Kohli as permanent captain.

It is quite simple - when Kohli returns, Rahane makes wah and Iyer replaces him at #5.

Iyer is younger, mentally stronger and more hungry for runs because he wants to prove himself. Rahane is a like stale, old bread.

There is no justification for the selectors and the management to continue to persist with Rahane and treat the likes of Iyer as backup.

[street cricketer]

Normally, Gavaskar would throw a hissy fit if Rahane is replaced, but then Iyer is also a Mumbaikar, so I wouldn't be surprised if Gavaskar asks for Kohli to remain on the bench and play the same team next test.

[globalcitizen]

Rahane average in tests in Asia has dropped to 28.5 , that is shocking beyond belief

[Varun]

Rahane is such a deadweight.

[CrIc_Mystique]

This should be Rahane’s farewell Test. I can only laugh at those who wanted this timid coward to replace Kohli as permanent captain.

It is quite simple - when Kohli returns, Rahane makes wah and Iyer replaces him at #5.

Iyer is younger, mentally stronger and more hungry for runs because he wants to prove himself. Rahane is a like stale, old bread.

There is no justification for the selectors and the management to continue to persist with Rahane and treat the likes of Iyer as backup.

I agree with all your comments except 'timid coward'. Just because he did'nt score heavily in the last 12 odd matches does not make him a 'timid coward' . am no fan boy of his but he's scored heaps of runs in all the countries he's played including charging a Mitchell johnson at his peak at brisbane and melbourne - 2014 'timid cowards' dont do that.
Yes, we have to look elsewhere as his form is a massive concern.
Where India will miss him on a massive front is his fantastic yet under rated close in catching. He is up there with the best. all time. Some of the very tough catches he has taken with utmost ease making it look super easy, u need class for that.
Gotta give more respect, mate.

[Varun]

Remember a similar situation in Ahmedabad 11 years ago vs NZ where Harbhajan had to score a century to save us? Laxman batted well too.

[CrIc_Mystique]

Go Tamil lions - get us in front and big...Hope Ash and iyer go big.
However, if NZ get two quick wickets, its packup time
match is intrestingly poised....Go India

[Aman]

This is probably the match winning partnership. Whenever we knock over the top order, it's always the tail that troubles us. If it's not Jadeja, it's Ashwin. Axar and Saha still to come so this will be 240+.

Needed to knock India over, anything over 150 is going to be hard.

[Ab Fan]

This should be Rahane’s farewell Test. I can only laugh at those who wanted this timid coward to replace Kohli as permanent captain.

It is quite simple - when Kohli returns, Rahane makes wah and Iyer replaces him at #5.

Iyer is younger, mentally stronger and more hungry for runs because he wants to prove himself. Rahane is a like stale, old bread.

There is no justification for the selectors and the management to continue to persist with Rahane and treat the likes of Iyer as backup.

Yeah, that is one quality that Iyer has. But his game is very weak vs pace. He is like Shoaib Malik but doesn't bowl.

[MP2011]

Williamson is such a defensive captain. Even when we were under the pump, he hardly had any close in fielders.

[MP2011]

50 partnership between these 2 and 150 lead.

[Aman]

Williamson is such a defensive captain. Even when we were under the pump, he hardly had any close in fielders.

Nah, he's not. Not overly aggressive but he's definitely been poor today. Should have surrounded Ashwin and Iyer when they were just in and India were 5 down for 50.

[MP2011]

What an unlucky way to get out for Ashwin!

[MP2011]

Useless Saha in.

[MP2011]

Nah, he's not. Not overly aggressive but he's definitely been poor today. Should have surrounded Ashwin and Iyer when they were just in and India were 5 down for 50.

Yeah, today he is definitely poor. That was perfect chance for him to bury us.

[Devadwal]

This should be last test match for saha .

[Devadwal]

Nah, he's not. Not overly aggressive but he's definitely been poor today. Should have surrounded Ashwin and Iyer when they were just in and India were 5 down for 50.

After Lunch he should have bowl Jamison and Southee instead of spinner

[Aman]

180 is game on.

Anything over and India are favorites.

This has been an excellent Test to watch, just hope we can win from here.

[street cricketer]

It's a minor miracle that we have had so much success in the last 12 months in Test cricket with basically none of Kohli, Pujara and Rahane contributing.

Without our bowling, we would be languishing in the 6th or 7th place with the crap middle order we have. At some point, we need to move on from at least Pujara and Rahane, if not Kohli. I'm afraid we're setting ourselves up for a terrible transition, the last time we failed to look at the obvious, we lost 4-0 and 4-0 in England and Australia exactly a decade back.

[Devadwal]

It's a minor miracle that we have had so much success in the last 12 months in Test cricket with basically none of Kohli, Pujara and Rahane contributing.

Without our bowling, we would be languishing in the 6th or 7th place with the crap middle order we have. At some point, we need to move on from at least Pujara and Rahane, if not Kohli. I'm afraid we're setting ourselves up for a terrible transition, the last time we failed to look at the obvious, we lost 4-0 and 4-0 in England and Australia exactly a decade back.

Who wil be dropped when Virat return for 2nd test . Definitely not iyer after brilliant 1st test. ideal scenario Rahane should dropped but they most likely dropped Mayank but again who will be open alongside Gill.

[street cricketer]

Who wil be dropped when Virat return for 2nd test . Definitely not iyer after brilliant 1st test. ideal scenario Rahane should dropped but they most likely dropped Mayank but again who will be open alongside Gill.

I will not be surprised in the slightest if Iyer gets dropped for the next test. The team management is perfectly capable of doing it.

[Ab Fan]

It is a good thing though that Pujara and Rahane have flopped in both innings. Hopefully, Iyer gets to the fifty, win us the game and that should be it for one of Pujara or Rahane.

[MP2011]

We have lost just 1 home test out of 70 when we scored 345 or more in the first innings. That was at Bangalore in '98 against Australia when Tendulkar played that out of the world innings of 177. Kasprovicz took 5 wickets in our 2nd innings.

[Marathonrunner]

Pujara and Rahane have become baggages now and really they should pave way for Kohli and Shreyas .

[CrIc_Mystique]

Bombay Patel's nickname is Jaz-man ...
When he bowled to Akshar Patel in the first innings, i guess it might be the first instance of a patel bowling to another patel, however i guess Dipak patel might have bowled to Rashid Patel in NZ tour of India in 1988

[CrIc_Mystique]

Pujara and Rahane have become baggages now and really they should pave way for Kohli and Shreyas .

I guess Rahane might be put on notice...
they might give pujara a longer rope.
What might weaken us if rahane goes, is his terrific close in catching. he is one of india's atg when it comes to fielding close in, some catches he has taken are actually difficult catches taken with extreme ease.
However, yeah -a call needs to be taken with his batting. younger blood is probably the need of the hour

[Thanos]

Saha is just delaying inevitable. This blocking will not get us anywhere. Atleast take some singles man.
And he hits a boundary. Lol

[CrIc_Mystique]

And next test when VK is back, with his luck with the toss.... guess who will be batting last in the 4th innings

[MP2011]

Lusty blows by Saha.

[Thanos]

Saha is just delaying inevitable. This blocking will not get us anywhere. Atleast take some singles man.
And he hits a boundary. Lol

And then a six.

[CrIc_Mystique]

Ajaz patel to Shreyas Iyer - One mumbaikar to another

[Devadwal]

I will not be surprised in the slightest if Iyer gets dropped for the next test. The team management is perfectly capable of doing it.

Correct , I'm also not surprised if they dropped Iyer because if they can dropped tripple Centurien then anyone can .

[Devadwal]

Ohhh just over the fielder otherwise he was gone

[Marathonrunner]

And next test when VK is back, with his luck with the toss.... guess who will be batting last in the 4th innings

Ha ha I bet that . VK should really take someone for tosses or nominate someone for tosses

[CrIc_Mystique]

If one includes 2018 eng tour, WTC final and 2021 series, am sure VK holds some sort of world record for loosing most consecutive tosses in tests in england,,,

[MP2011]

Lead is exactly 200 now.

[MP2011]

50 for Iyer, this is a great debut.

[CrIc_Mystique]

Outstanding by Shreyas Iyer

[Thanos]

Murli kartik talking about selection headache when Kohli will be back in next match and Iyer has already proved his selection.
The cameraman focusing on Rahane and Pujara. Lol, even the cameraman knows who should be dropped in next match.

[globalcitizen]

If one includes 2018 eng tour, WTC final and 2021 series, am sure VK holds some sort of world record for loosing most consecutive tosses in tests in england,,,

You can other posters can go all day about virat being unlucky.. Just look how unlucky virat is, and yet by hardwork and talent he has become so successful . Its a lesson for everyone you make Ur own luck

[Mainul]

India has already won this match

[Mainul]

180 is game on.

Anything over and India are favorites.

This has been an excellent Test to watch, just hope we can win from here.

No chance for NZ now. Too much for 4th innings chase.

[MP2011]

What a shot from Iyer off Southee.

[MP2011]

Iyer gone.

[Devadwal]

Iyer gone

[Devadwal]

Need 40 more runs so we can attack more

[Thanos]

Wicket on a nothing ball.

[CrIc_Mystique]

I think Shreyas 'Walked' , a very big thing for a guy on debut, good sportsman ship
Well done young man
and that ball was pathetic, just hit the rubber of the glove.
need another 45 , if so can put more close in fielders when they bat

[CrIc_Mystique]

You can other posters can go all day about virat being unlucky.. Just look how unlucky virat is, and yet by hardwork and talent he has become so successful . Its a lesson for everyone you make Ur own luck

Its never about his luck mate, its more about how the results in the tosses affected the overall outcome, no one is blaming him, rather just commenting on realilty. and also not creating excuses for any results that did nt go our way becuase of lost toss. off course, his hard work and talent got him to where he is. But your argument is comparing apples to oranges

[MenInG]

NZ 296
IND 345 & 167/7 (60.2) CRR: 2.77
Day 4: Tea Break - India lead by 216 runs

[Buffet]

NZ is not out of the game. It will be hard to chase, but Indians did it in Gaba. Can NZ do it here?

[Mahee]

Iyer's wicket on a nothing ball is going to cost us the match ...pitch looks really flat... nothing for spinners