New Zealand paceman Trent Boult admitted the visitors let India off the hook after reducing them to 125 for three on the opening day of the first Test here on Thursday.
“The plan was to put pressure on younger players and we had a big opportunity to cash in on but we missed the bus there,” said Boult, who claimed two wickets including the big scalp of Sachin Tendulkar.
“Looking forward to tomorrow, it will be a big first hour. We have to have a go at the batsmen and get a couple of wickets and have a crack at the tail. It’s going to set the tone if we get some early wickets. I think that is what we need to do,” he explained.
India had lost three of their most senior batsmen –– Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Tendulkar –– for 125 but Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli raised 125 runs between them to dash Kiwi hopes of making further inroads.
“Pujara had an awesome innings,” said Boult of India’s centurion on the day. “He is very patient and played well. To have 300 and a bit for five, the game is still well in the balance. I think India batted well. They played attacking brand of cricket at the start. To get Sehwag relatively early was a big bonus.”
The left-arm seamer also cherished Tendulkar’s scalp. “It was obviously a prize wicket of Sachin, it is something I will always remember. He is one of the best players in world cricket.”