The first test match between New Zealand and India played at Ahmedabad during 4th to 8 thNovember ended in a draw. However both teams would have mixed feelings with the end result.
To begin with a depleted New Zealand were not expected to last the distance and draw is what they would have hoped for when they started the match. However with seamer Chris Martin slicing through the Indian top order a huge upset was on the cards and it is only the brilliance of V V S Laxman and the enterprise of Harbhajan Singh which saved the day for India. New Zealand would still be happy at the end of the day because they got the result what they would have hoped for prior to commencement of the test but would feel let down having squandered a golden opportunity having had India at their mercy at the end of fourth days play.
Indian should feel doubly disappointed with the result. In the first place they should not have allowed New Zealand to come anywhere near to their first innings total and after having allowed them to inch closer to their first innings they cannot be excused for being blown away by a toothless New Zealand attack. If Harbhajan Singh a mere tail ender without a proper technique can fest on the New Zealand helping himself to a fifty and a century in the test match how can the strongest batting line up in the world collapse against a second or third string New Zealand.
No doubt Harbhajan was the hero in the first match and was rightly named man of the match for his brilliant second innings century to go along with his crucial fifty in the first innings but then he and team management have plenty of reasons to worry as he is no more the strike rate bowler he used to be a few years back. It would be wise on the part of team management and selectors to heed to Sunil Gavaskar's suggestion of picking up a extra bowler for the next test and play Harbhajan Singh as a all rounder.
Another thing which would be a cause of concern for Indian fans was skippers Dhoni's approach on the final day. With Harbhajan having completed his century and India having a lead in excess of 260 India should have declared their innings. At that point of time Indians had the upper hand as it is impossible for New Zealand to chase 260 with just about 35 overs but at the same time 35 overs would have been enough if India would have applied pressure on a weak batting line up in which their best batsmen in the last couple of years has been their skipper Vettori and that itself explains how weak is the New Zealand batting.
The situation was just perfect for M S Dhoni had he declared 35 overs before close of play as that would have allowed his pacers a five over burst in the beginning without worried about getting tired as they need now bowl again in the match. Having had the pacers complete their burst, M S Dhoni would have set a field of close in fielders to apply pressure on the batsmen and force them to pop up bat pad catches. A few big hits by batsmen would not have worried Dhoni because there were far too many runs to have got in very few overs. There is every possibility that New Zealand would still have saved the match even if Dhoni had declared 35 overs before but then India would have had the physiological edge having conveyed New Zealand a message that they are too strong a team and are going to be the dominant team in the series.