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KOHLI: "The boys applied themselves well. A couple of soft dismissals put us on the backfoot in the first innings, but Jadeja and Ashwin batted well from thereon and gave us a competitive total. Then, NZ were batting well initially, but we came out with a positive intent and got the quick wickets on Day 2. When wickets don't fall, as a team you would like to keep things tight and don't give away easy singles. Otherwise, it becomes difficult for the captain. Everyone from Ashwin, Jadeja, Saha and even Mishra has contributed with the bat in recent times. Our opponents think they'll bowl us out for under 300, and we end up getting 340-350 which makes a massive difference. NZ showed good resistance and that is something you want to see. The guts they showed took the game to the fifth day. Looking forward to a competitive Test series ahead."
JADEJA: "I'm very happy, and I think I played my role with the bat. I was preparing myself batsman before the match, and initially, gave time to my bowling. Duleep Trophy games helped me, as I got wickets there. Hence, I was sure that turning tracks and slow tracks would fetch me wickets. In the 1st innings, the wicket was slow, and the ball was not turning, so we mixed up the pace. Obviously, Ashwin is a very good bowler. In 1st innings, when Kane and Latham were batting, we were discussing whether to bowl fast or slow and what lengths to bowl against them."
MAN OF THE MATCH: Ravindra Jadeja
The Jana Bank most bankable player award goes to Ravichandran Ashwin.
Time for the post-match presentation.
New Zealand's chase ends. India's 13-Test long home season is off to a great start. It looked even stevens at the end of the first two days, but the way the Indian spinners conjured up a comeback as the pitch deteriorated, all of Kiwis worst dreams started to come true. Ashwin spun the ball viciously, Jadeja fired in maidens to keep the pressure from one end, and Shami exposed the tourists' vulnerability against reverse swing by snaring back to back victims.
The Kiwis need to go back to the drawing board and take corrective measures, as far as the middle order is concerned. On both occasions, a major collapse wasted all the hard work put in by their own spinners. Kohli was shrewd with his bowling changes, not giving any batsman the opportunity to settle down. Mitchell Santner impressed one and all with his combative batting, frustrating the Indian bowlers in the first hour of the day's play with Luke Ronchi.
87.3 Ashwin to Wagner, OUT! INDIA WIN BY 197 RUNS! Fuller one again, on middle and off, turning away, Wagner looks to defend but makes no connection whatsoever. The ball hits his pads right in front of the stumps, and the umpire raises the finger almost immediately.
87.2 Ashwin to Wagner, no run, full one on off stump, blocked back.
87.1 Ashwin to Wagner, no run, full on off stump, spinning away with bounce, beats Wagner.
Ashwin continues.
86.6 Jadeja to Boult, no run, full on leg stump, Boult looks to sweep it, but misses. Gets an inside edge towards short leg.
86.5 Jadeja to Boult, no run, full on leg stump, defended towards silly point off the front foot.
86.4 Jadeja to Boult, no run, full one on off or just outside off, defended towards silly point.
86.3 Jadeja to Boult, no run, full on off, defended back.
86.2 Jadeja to Boult, no run, full on off, defended towards silly point.
86.1 Jadeja to Boult, no run, full on off stump, defended back.
85.6 Ashwin to Wagner, no run, fuller one on middle and off, spinning away, beats the edge.
85.5 Ashwin to Wagner, no run, a ripper again. Pitched on middle and spun sharply away, that somehow missed the edge.
85.4 Ashwin to Wagner, no run, full on middle stump, spins away and beats the bat.
85.3 Ashwin to Wagner, no run, pitched outside leg, turning towards off, defended.
85.2 Ashwin to Wagner, no run, full on middle, turned away, defended off the backfoot.
85.1 Ashwin to Wagner, no run, full on off stump, turning away, defended.
84.6 Jadeja to Boult, no run, full on leg, hits Boult on the pads, but it was sliding down leg. Hence, the appeal by the bowler was turned down.
84.5 Jadeja to Boult, no run, full on middle and leg, defended back.
84.4 Jadeja to Boult, no run, outside off, left alone.
84.3 Jadeja to Boult, no run, full one on off stump, defended.
84.2 Jadeja to Boult, no run, full on middle stump, defended towards short leg.
84.1 Jadeja to Boult, no run, full on off, Boult looks to drive and missed.
83.6 Ashwin to Wagner, no run, straighter this time, on middle stump, turning towards off, defended back.
83.5 Ashwin to Wagner, no run, pitched full on off and turned away and bounced as well. Wagner leaves it alone.
83.4 Ashwin to Wagner, no run, full on middle and turning away, defended back.
83.3 Ashwin to Sodhi, OUT! Ashwin has another five-wicket-haul. His 19th! Straighter ball, that pitched on middle and knocked over Sodhi's leg stump, as the batsman had shuffled to far across his stumps, and had exposed the sticks. India one wicket away from a victory.
83.2 Ashwin to Sodhi, no run, full length ball on off stump, defended off the backfoot.
83.1 Ashwin to Sodhi, SIX! Big hit by Sodhi. Slightly short of full length, and Sodhi sits down and slog sweeps the ball over deep square leg for a six.
The new ball is gripping on the surface and extracting a lot more bounce. Jadeja rockets in another maiden over.
82.6 Jadeja to Boult, no run, fuller one on off stump, Boult looks to pad it outside off, but misses the ball. Saha collects the cherry inches wide of the off stump.
82.5 Jadeja to Boult, no run, full on middle and off, defended with a straight bat.
82.4 Jadeja to Boult, no run, full one on leg stump, defended off the front foot.
82.3 Jadeja to Boult, no run, very wide of off stump, turns away, Boult leaves.
82.2 Jadeja to Boult, no run, full outside off, turns away, Boult leaves, again.
82.1 Jadeja to Boult, no run, full outside off, spinning away, Boult gets forward and leaves.
The second new ball has been taken.
Sodhi averages a decent 25 in Tests, with two half centuries in 13 Tests.
81.6 Ashwin to Boult, 1 run, full one on leg stump, swept it towards deep midwicket for a single.
81.5 Ashwin to Boult, no run, full on middle and leg, blocked back to the bowler.
81.4 Ashwin to Sodhi, 1 run, quick single. Good length, outside off, cut towards Jadeja at point.
81.3 Ashwin to Sodhi, no run, full one on off stump, blocked back to the bowler.
81.2 Ashwin to Sodhi, FOUR, fuller one, in fact, a full toss, swept away towards backward short leg for a boundary.
81.1 Ashwin to Sodhi, no run, Sodhi was looking to sweep a full ball that was turning in, and got hit on the thighs.
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So that's all from us for now, folks. We hope that you did enjoy the coverage as much as we did while covering it for you. We'll see you soon, though, as the next Test, the 2nd of the three-match series starts on September 30 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Till then, take care, and stay safe! Cheers!