[dailydriver]

Waiting for a wicket is India. Looking for an offer of lights is New Zealand. The former can still win, the latter can still remain undefeated.

Irrespective of the result, Test Cricket is the real victor today.

[Latheesh]

2 Indians preventing India's victory

[AtheK]

This pitch has been amazing, kudos to the Curator, yes the odd one did stay low, but then again odd one takes off from other pitches too.

NZ is such a champion team, and proving why they are World test champions, such a brilliant match, would have been a heartbreak to see them lose, I say that even as an Indian supporter, they played there hearts out!!

Originally Posted by Latheesh

Indians preventing India's victory

Come on they are doing there job, kudos to the last pair of NZ

[ValarMorghulis]

This was a disappointing (though exciting) end to the test match. Kudos to the Kiwis but we should have won.

[Ananthang]

You can’t win against Rahul and Sachin playing for a draw in Home conditions.

[harry10]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Ross Taylor's wicket at the stroke of tea almost rules out a NZ win now. Let's see who wins now - spin, defence or light.

India has always been unlucky when it comes to stuff like bad light, rain washouts. Mostly we are on the wrong end of this. Not taking anything away from NZ but they got quite lucky with the bad light. Another couple of overs and they could have lost.

Won't blame bowlers at all, everyone tried there best. It's quite tough to take wickets when batsman have only one mindset of blocking every ball. In hindsight maybe we should have batted a bit fast and declared with an hour to remain yesterday. But, that's ifs and but's.

Anyways, I am looking forward to the selection fun for next game and the reasoning management gives to keep playing Rahane.

[antz.bin]

Well, ever since the last guy Ajaz came out to bat, nobody looked like getting out.

And as far as bad luck and bad light are concerned, India did manage to get the full 90 overs of the day in. The NZ tailenders were good enough on the day to keep out everything that Indians had to throw at them.

Full credit to Rachin Ravindra and Ajaz Patel for holding fort. 2 Ethinic Indians have success denied India victory.

[NPV]

India was tad unlucky but full credit to New Zealand batsmen for their tenacity to draw the game.

Last couple of overs were tense along with the uncertainty of the game being called off due to bad light.

Interestingly, the game ended with a similar named batting vs bowling combination

[Eddy]

Well played NZ. The series is effectively a one off test now and NZ can create history in Mumbai, specially if the ball swings in the first session.

I am sure that they will play Neil Wagner instead of the off-spin of Somerville. Santner may also get a look in.

It will not be easy for India.

[Oxy]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Well played NZ. The series is effectively a one off test now and NZ can create history in Mumbai, specially if the ball swings in the first session.

I am sure that they will play Neil Wagner instead of the off-spin of Somerville. Santner may also get a look in.

It will not be easy for India.

We have a horrible record in Mumbai. It's NZ's series to lose.

Pathetic approach towards the declaration cost us the first test basically. Nobody was even trying to hit out and get some quick runs.

[KPR]

Very good calm demeanour shown by NZ players, Ajaz and Ravindra in particular esp the last 5-6 overs with light fading. How the reactions would've been if action king Kohli was batting in such conditions and his coach Shastri watching from dug out during bad light batting on Day 5. Water in between overs? Change of gloves? Full credit to the duo of NZ for batting every ball with no remorse or whatever. Reminded me of Vihari vs Aus.

[dailydriver]

Looking back, it was perhaps in the first hour of the last day's play that India lost the winning edge. The night watchman William Somerville was allowed to bat for 110 deliveries (almost a complete T20 innings span). Had he been got early, further inroads would have been possible at a quicker rate.

Another sterling innings was of Rachin (named after Rahul & Sachin). He stood like a literal wall between India and the victory mark and remained unbeaten for 91 balls!

That both the surviving batters have an Indian connection/origin is something that will be talked of with envy, at least for while.

[VWAllstar]

Originally Posted by KPR

How the reactions would've been if action king Kohli was batting in such conditions and his coach Shastri watching from dug out during bad light batting on Day 5. Water in between overs? Change of gloves? Full credit to the duo of NZ for batting every ball with no remorse or whatever. Reminded me of Vihari vs Aus.

Jumping Jack would have created a scene out there. Surely he would have intimidated Nitin for an extension. By that standards, Rahane showed a lot of humility. Not easy for a stand in captain to see a draw when he had a win in his control.

India, Aus & Eng could be the big 3 in world cricket but NZ are sweeping appreciations on the ground.

[landcruiser123]

No point blaming the light, especially since we got 90 overs in.

NZ was the superior team on the day. India made it difficult for themselves by not picking Somerville early.

I hope Mayank and Iyer retain their place for the next test and hope the management don't get ideas to slot Rahane in the 11. The VC needs a break and some domestic/county cricket to regain his form.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Well played NZ. The series is effectively a one off test now and NZ can create history in Mumbai, specially if the ball swings in the first session.

Its scheduled to rain in Mumbai tomorrow, though no rain is forecast during the match. Mumbai usually is a sporting wicket with nice carry but there have also been rank turners in the past, lets see what the pitch curator dishes out.