Speaking at a press conference for the first time since he was dropped for what came to be known in public as slow strike rate in the Tests in the West Indies, Cheteshwar Pujara may have come prepared for a question on the scoring rate. It was naughtily put too.
Pujara was asked what he thought of India's strike rate on a day that New Zealand bowled with discipline to keep the hosts under three-an-over even though they lost just the three wickets. Pujara saw the slower ball early; he could have hit it out of the park, but chose to respectfully block it.
"This issue has become slightly too big," Pujara said. "The message [from the team management to him] was to play with intent. When it comes to Test cricket, we don't need to focus much on strike rate. It's about having a positive intent. Overall, on such wickets, obviously you can't keep scoring runs at strike rates above 70-80. You have to play according to the situation, know what the team requires, what number you're batting at. Depending on all circumstances, you have to bat accordingly."
Two of his team-mates, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, batted according to the situation, weathering the threatening period before gradually scoring runs faster in an unbeaten 167-run partnership. That Kohli can accelerate is well known, but Pujara pointed to what is not pointed often: Rahane's wish to dominate once he is in.
"I've observed for the last two years that Ajinkya's batting has improved in all formats," Pujara said. "Especially in Test cricket, the way he is batting, he has scored runs in tough situations in India and abroad. He has improved a lot. Once he is set, the way he dominates is always a pleasure to watch."
The second half of this partnership is what New Zealand will rue after they had reduced India to 100 for 3 in 36 overs. James Neesham, the New Zealand allrounder making a Test comeback, said all was not lost yet because they had still kept a check on the scoring rate.
"I don't know if we could have done it a whole lot different with the ball," Neesham said. "We stuck at it well. Seamers had a tough job with not a lot of bounce or lateral movement. If you can't get the ball reverse-swinging, it's difficult with their quality batsmen. Keeping the run rate below three was a good achievement. Couple of quick wickets tomorrow, and we're still in game."
There is one thing they could have done differently, though: call correctly at the toss. That's a habit Kane Williamson seems to have inherited from Brendon McCullum. On a tour where tosses are crucial, New Zealand have lost all three. Neesham could laugh about it, though.
"Probably makes it easier, turn up at the ground knowing you're probably going to lose and be bowling, which is an easier mental shift than thinking you might be batting."