"Even your No. 8 batter has 6 centuries" - Aakash Chopra on whether India can bounce back in IND vs NZ 2024 1st Test
Aakash Chopra reckons India can stage a comeback in the ongoing first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. He pointed out that the hosts have immense batting depth and the Kiwi bowlers shouldn't trouble them much in the second innings.
India were bundled out for 46 after opting to bat first on Day 2 (Thursday, October 17) after the first day's play was washed out. New Zealand were 180 for three at Stumps, ahead by 134 runs heading into the third morning.
During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Chopra was asked whether India can bounce back in the Bengaluru Test. He said that they will just as they did in the 2001 Kolkata Test after conceding a first-innings lead of more than 200 runs.
"When it happened in 2001, no one had thought until then that it could happen. What happened in Kanpur, we hadn't thought that could happen as well. This match is on. I am not dreaming as of now but it's a possibility. The 46-run innings has passed. The wicket is going to be good. The opposition bowlers who picked up 10 wickets won't trouble you now. That's past," he responded.
"Now the spin that will come will be Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and Ajaz Patel. You should back yourselves. Even your No. 8 batter has six centuries. So if you play like that, you might score 400-450. However, to reach there, you have to stop them first because if they reach a situation where they can declare, India will lose this match," Chopra added.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who is India's No. 8 batter, was dismissed for a duck in the first innings. However, the spin-bowling all-rounder has six Test centuries to his name, including a 113-run knock in the recent Chennai Test against Bangladesh.
"They shouldn't get easy runs" - Aakash Chopra on India's potential strategy on Day 3
![New Zealand have so far scored at a run rate of 3.60. [P/C: BCCI]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/4bf8c-17291831179193-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same discussion, Aakash Chopra noted that India need to be disciplined with the ball on the morning of Day 3.
"You will have to bowl with discipline because so many runs have been scored already. You want to keep them in check. They shouldn't get easy runs. If you have to drag a little, do that as well," he said.
The reputed commentator added that the Indian bowlers should limit the visitors' scoring rate.
"You will definitely see one thing in New Zealand's batting, whenever they have played spin, the thinking has been to keep scoring runs, whether by playing reverse sweeps, sweeps or cuts. When batters are ready to do that, your responsibility is that the game shouldn't move forward that quickly," Chopra observed.
Jasprit Bumrah, who is yet to pick up a wicket in New Zealand's first innings, has been India's most economical bowler, conceding 23 runs in 10 overs. Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravichandran Ashwin have picked up a wicket apiece. However, the latter two have conceded an average of more than four runs per over.