“Proud of you”: Ricky Ponting elated as Shreyas Iyer makes Test debut in Kanpur Test

Dixit Bhargav | 25/11/2021
"Proud of you": Ricky Ponting elated as Shreyas Iyer makes Test debut in Kanpur Test

Shreyas Iyer makes Test debut vs New Zealand: The Mumbai-batter has become the 303rd player to play Test cricket for India.

The first day of the first Test of the ongoing New Zealand’s tour of India has commence on a disciplined note in Kanpur. An archetype start to a Test match witnessed Indian batters trying to get their eye in against the new ball.

New Zealand, on the other hand, have also done pretty well in terms of not giving away too many runs and dismissing Mayank Agarwal (13) in the process. The fact that the visitors were asked to bowl first by India captain Ajinkya Rahane against their desire of wanting to bat first had made it all the more important for them to start well at the Green Park today.

Ricky Ponting elated as Shreyas Iyer makes Test debut

New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra, who has already played six T20Is for them this year, was handed a Test debut earlier today. The 22-year old player has found a spot ahead of another all-rounder Mitchell Santner and a third fast-bowling option in Neil Wagner.

Meanwhile, India had already announced a Test debut for batter Shreyas Iyer on the eve of the match making his the 303rd Test player for them. Iyer, 26, has already played 54 white-ball matches across formats at the highest level.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting was among the many well-wishers for Iyer on his Test debut. Readers must note that Ponting and Iyer have worked extensively with each other as a head coach and captain at Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League.

In 54 first-class matches till date, Iyer has amassed 4,592 runs at an average and strike rate of 52.18 and 81.54 respectively with the help of 12 centuries and 23 half-centuries. It is worth mentioning that Iyer is the only current player across the world with a first-class average and strike rate of more than 50 and 80 respectively.

Post Edited By: Dixit Bhargav
India New Zealand New Zealand tour of India 2021 Ricky Ponting shreyas iyer

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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