India bundled out New Zealand on a paltry score of 62 runs in the first innings of the ongoing second Test in Mumbai. India had scored 325 runs in the first innings and they got a lead of 263 runs, but they decided not to enforce a follow-on.
India's off-spinner R Ashwin bagged four wickets for 8 runs in 8 overs, including two maidens. It was the pacer Mohammed Siraj who set the tone for India by picking up three early wickets in the first innings.
Former India cricketer VVS Laxman on Sunday (December 5) explained the reason behind not enforcing follow-on on the visitors. He feels with the South Africa Test series coming up, India wanted their batters to get some runs under their belt.
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“The reason Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid didn't enforce a follow-on because they wanted their batsmen to spend more time on the wicket and get runs under their belt because the South Africa series is not too far away," he said on Star Sports.
"You want Pujara and Kohli to get their magic three-figure mark which has eluded them for a long time. So I think they will bat the whole day. That will be their target. I think they will reassess at tea time, but I would have been Kohli or Dravid, I would have wanted them to bat all day. It's the third day of the Test match, not the fourth day,” he added.
India decided to open the innings with Mayank Agarwal, who scored 150 runs in the first innings, and Cheteshwar Pujara, instead of Shubman Gill in the second innings.
Former Kiwi cricketer Daniel Vettori felt it was a decision to manage the workload of Indian bowlers. "Most captains around the world sort of tend to urge towards not enforcing the follow-on. Mainly to rest bowlers because of managing their workload.
"However, India bowled only 28-29 overs and yes Kohli could've chosen to opt for follow-on and make huge inroads into New Zealand. But he didn't. And I don't think there's anything wrong with it. It'll make it incredibly difficult for New Zealand to make a comeback. It's almost impossible," he told ESPNCricinfo.
(Quotes Inputs from Star Sports and ESPNCricinfo)
