IND vs NZ | 1st Test: Shreyas Iyer hits century on Test debut to lead India's batting effort

Extending his dream run of form with the bat, Shreyas Iyer celebrated his Test debut with a magnificent century on the second day of the ongoing first Test in Kanpur. He was instrumental in taking India closer to the 330-run mark.

He hit 13 fours and two massive sixes in his innings of 105 runs and went on to become only the 16th Indian batsman to hit a century on Test debut. He was dismissed by Tim Southee.

Iyer walked out to bat at the number five position when Cheteshwar Pujara was knocked out by Tim Southee and stitched valuable partnerships with Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja to lead India’s batting efforts.

Iyer was brought into the squad as the skipper Virat Kohli opted out of the first Test of the series against New Zealand and Hanuma Vihari was sent on the tour of South Africa with India A side. Still, he was competing with Shubman Gill for a place in the middle order but the injury to KL Rahul made way for his debut in the middle order.

His century in this game that could well turn out to be a match-winning effort with the bat will complicate selection calls for the team management when Kohli will return for the second Test of the series.

His century will also put pressure on the vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, who is leading the side in this game in absence of Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, who suffered another batting failure in the first innings of the Test.

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