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India vs New Zealand: Ajinkya Rahane defends timing of declaration after Kanpur Test ends in draw

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 11/30/2021 2:51:14 PM

New Delhi, Nov 29 India's stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane said on Monday that the hosts couldn't have done anything differently when it came to the timing of their declaration on Day 4 of the 1st Test against New Zealand that ended in a thrilling draw. The timing of India's declaration on Day 4 has been questioned with former cricketer VVS Laxman saying that it came back to haunt them on the final day when New Zealand showed a lot of grit and determination to eke out a thrilling draw as their last-wicket pair batted out 52 balls to deny India a victory. India batted late into the last session on Day 4 as they set New Zealand a 284-run target. India were reduced to 51/5 but gritty fifties from Shreyas Iyer (65) and Wriddhiman Saha (61 not out) helped India post 234/7 before they declared with less than half an hour's play left. India were able to bowl only 4 overs before bad light brought an early end to the day's play. R Ashwin struck late on Day 4, removing opener Will Young but nightwatchman Will Somerville and opener Tom Latham batted out the entire first session on Day 5 without losing a wicket. New Zealand lost 3 wickets in the post-lunch session and 5 in the final session but the hosts were not able to take the final wicket as bad light once again forced an early end to proceedings. Questions are being asked of Saha and Axar's internet during their partnership on Day 4 and the timing of the declaration decision, considering the Kanpur pitch did not have any demons even on the final day and bad light playing a part on all days in Kanpur. "Not really (declared earlier?), we tried our best. They played really well. I think the way we came back in the second session was good. The fast bowlers too bowled really well," Rahane said. "We wanted to get that partnership going, put some runs on board. Saha and Axar batted really well. Before that Shreyas and Ashwin's partnership was crucial. We wanted to bowl four overs yesterday and 90- 95 in all. "I don't think we could have done anything differently," he added. Rahane had a lengthy chat with on-field umpires before they offered the light to Rachin Ravindra and Ajaz Patel who hung around to deny India a win on Day 5. Elaborating on the chat, Rahane said: "The chat with the umpires was about the light. As a fielding team, you want to bowl more overs, as a batting unit you don't want to bat in that situation. The chat was about the light, but umpires made the call and I thought they were right." Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane lauded Shreyas Iyer, who was named the Player.