Mumbai batter Shreyas Iyer was handed over his debut cap in the opening Test match against New Zealand by India's great Sunil Gavaskar. Iyer was included in India's Test squad in 2017 for the last Test against Australia, but he waited four years to make his debut.

Iyer, coming out to bat at number 5, made the opportunity count and scored a hundred in his first Test. He remained unbeaten on 75 at the end of Day 1 and completed his ton in the first session of Day 2 before getting out to Tim Southee on 105 runs.

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Speaking in host broadcaster Star Sports' post-match show after Day 1, India's Test great VVS Laxman lauded Iyer for his outstanding knock and called him an established international cricketer.

"The bench is strong as far as Indian cricket is concerned. This might be Shreyas Iyer's first Test but he is an established international cricketer (in white-ball)", he said. 

"He knew when to attack. When to be a little subdued. What was really good to see was that he did not compromise on his natural game", he added.

Iyer has been featuring in India's limited-overs squad almost regularly for a while now, but he wasn't active in red-ball cricket at the domestic stage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Laxman was impressed with the way Iyer adapted to a different format. "The last first-class match he had played was almost two years back. The toughest challenge for a youngster is the transformation from red-ball cricket to white-ball cricket. 

"The temperament is different, the shot selection is challenged. Iyer absorbed the pressure and showed what a strong character he is", he said.

(With StarSports Inputs)