NEW DELHI: All-rounder Rachin Ravindra and pace bowler William O’Rourke will be full of confidence after playing key parts in the team’s first Test victory in India in 36 years, according to New Zealand coach Gary Stead.
The hosts suffered just their sixth home loss in the longest format in eleven years as the Black Caps successfully chased down 107 for an eight-wicket victory in the series opener in Bengaluru on Sunday, overcoming some aggressive bowling.
Ravindra, who has roots in Bengaluru, finished the game with 134 and 39 not out. Pacer O’Rourke helped dismiss India for their lowest home total of 46 by taking seven wickets, including four in the first innings.
“Any time you play big roles in the team, you walk away with confidence. Rachin has made every post a winner in all the games he has played in and he was at his very best in this game,” Stead said.
“He played beautifully in both innings and probably put us in a position that we could win.
“O’Rourke as well … first time in India, many people have come over here and never had that win so it’s lovely for him to experience that early on in his career.”
After India’s poor first-innings performance, the pitch became better for batting, and Stead acknowledged that there was some element of luck at play.
“Whenever you bowl a team out for a score like that (46), you put yourself in a strong position,” he added.
“We were lucky that the ball nipped around early and the pitch flattened out pretty quickly after that.
“All our seamers – Matt Henry, Tim Southee and O’Rourke – were outstanding and certainly put India on notice. To back it up with some fine batting after that was important.”
The teams will travel to Pune for the second of three Test matches starting on Thursday, with New Zealand hoping to win the series.
