IND vs NZ: 1st Test Preview – New-look India meet World Test Champions
After clinching the T20I series 3-0, Team India would like to dominate New Zealand in the upcoming two-match Test series as well. The opening clash gets underway on Thursday (November 25) at the Green Park in Kanpur. With India not losing a Test series at home since 2012, they will definitely take the field as favourites. However, New Zealand have all the reasons to back themselves to breach the fortress.
Many big names like Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have been rested for the series. In fact, regular skipper Virat Kohli will also give the first Test a miss and Ajinkya Rahane will lead in his absence. As far as the Kiwis are concerned, they would be raring to replicate their heroics from the World Test Championship final earlier this year. However, the conditions are different this time around.
Match Info:
India vs New Zealand, 1st Test
Venue: Green Park, Nagpur
Date: 25-29 November 2021
Time: 09:30 AM IST
Head to head:
New Zealand had won the last bilateral series 2-0 between these two sides back in New Zealand in 2020. Speaking of the last meeting between these two sides in the longest format, the Kiwis thrashed India by eight wickets in the inaugural World Test Championship final.
Team News:
India
As if Team India wasn’t short of many big names, KL Rahul sustained a muscle strain and got ruled out of both Tests. Hence, Shubman Gill would accompany Mayank Agarwal at the top. Shreyas Iyer is likely to pip Suryakumar Yadav for the number-four position. There would be a toss-up between KS Bharat and Wriddhiman Saha for the wicketkeeper’s slot. As spinners are known to get assistance in Kanpur, India would go with three spinners and two pacers.
New Zealand
New Zealand’s line-up looks pretty formidable with veterans Tom Latham, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor being in the playing XI. Like India, the Kiwis should also go with three spinners in Rachin Ravindra, William Somerville and Ajaz Patel. With Tim Southee playing a lot of cricket recently, fresh legs of Kyle Jamieson and Neil Wagner might be on display.
Probable XI
