Five things we learnt from India's win over NZ

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  • Rohit Sharma got some runs under his belt

    ASHWIN, JADEJA IN INDIAN CONDITIONS ARE NEARLY UNPLAYABLE

    They hunt in pairs on subcontinental pitches. Ravindra Jadeja asphyxiates the opposition, while Ravichandran Ashwin wreaks havoc with meticulously crafted plans which he executes to perfection.

    In the last two years, in the matches that India have won or drawn in the subcontinent, Ashwin has averaged 15.52 and Jadeja 13.10.

    Jadeja has been so miserly in fact, that in such matches, he’s only given away 1.81 runs per over and, on average, bowled almost nine maidens per innings.

    Ashwin has been the bowler with the most attacking approach in these matches, collecting 57 scalps in just 15 innings, and taking a fifer in seven innings.

    ROHIT TO GET AN EXTENDED RUN

    Rohit Sharma's Test Career

    • Matches: 19
    • Runs: 1049
    • Average: 34.96
    • Centuries: 2

    There are a lot of questions over why even after 19 Tests, nine years in the international arena and at the age of 29, Rohit Sharma is treated like a “talented youngster.”

    Although Rohit Sharma has emerged to become one of the best limited-overs batsmen in the world, his Test record is mediocre at best, and this season could very well be his last chance of coming good after the trust the management has placed on him.

    As was evidence in the Kanpur Test, India can make do with four specialist bowlers in home conditions but that might not always be the case away from home.

    The clock is ticking on Rohit’s Test career and he’ll have to do better than score an occasional fifty.

    RAHUL’S AGGRESSIVE STARTS HELP INDIA

    KL Rahul was in some form heading into this long season. Although he didn’t score big in this match, he got India off to positive starts in both the innings.

    The Karnataka batsman looked measured, yet aggressive. The one shot that really stood out was when he swept Mitchell Santner for a six early on day one.

    Rahul will be looking to put the pressure back on bowlers throughout the series, essentially playing the role that Virender Sehwag had previously done for the Indian team.

    KOHLI MAKES HIS INTENTIONS CLEAR

    One of the most telling remarks of the match came from Virat Kohli when he revealed that Cheteshwar Pujara was asked by the management to pick up his scoring rate.

    In fact, it was hinted that the reason Pujara was unexpectedly dropped in the West Indies was due to his low strike rate in the first two Tests of that series.

    This says a lot about Kohli, and where he wants the team to head in the future. It’s clear that he wants his side to aggressively push for outright wins.

    DHAWAN LIKELY TO SIT OUT AGAIN

    With KL Rahul in supreme form, there was some doubt if Shikhar Dhawan had a chance of getting the second opener’s spot ahead of Murali Vijay. Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t to be.

    Vijay scored fifties in both his innings at Kanpur and the solidity he offers at the top of the order means that Dhawan is likely to sit out the next Test in Kolkata as well unless Rahul’s hamstring injury is a serious one.

    In both innings, after the quick starts Rahul gave India, Vijay – along with Pujara – put India in very strong positions.

    The opening batsman from Tamil Nadi has arguably been India’s most consistent Test batsman over the last couple of years and should keep his place for a while.

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