India, riding high after sweeping the series against Bangladesh, will look to keep up the momentum against a faltering New Zealand.
While India triumphed 2-0 over Bangladesh last month, New Zealand was defeated likewise in Sri Lanka.
The fact that Kiwis batting star Kane Williamson will miss the opening Test in Bengaluru due to a groin issue has only made their situation worse.
It has been almost seven decades since New Zealand last won a Test series in India. Ten of the twelve series that New Zealand has played here since they first came to India in 1955–1956 have ended in losses, while two series were in draws in 1969–1970 and 2003–2004.
New Zealand has historically struggled on the slow-turning grounds in India, where they last won a Test match 35 years ago.
Of the 36 Tests played in India, they have only triumphed twice (1969 in Nagpur and 1988 in Mumbai); India has won 17 of the Tests, with the remaining 17 ending in draws.
India has won 12 of the 16 Test cricket series between the two nations, while the Kiwis have only managed six, all of which have taken place at home.
India is in outstanding form before the three-Test series against New Zealand, which begins in Bengaluru on Wednesday. All of their other batters, except veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, were among the runs in Bangladesh.
Many praised Rohit’s captaincy, particularly for how he led India to win against all odds in the rain-soaked second Test in Kanpur, where over two days were lost to the weather.
In the Kanpur Test, Virat Kohli looked to be finding his form again, making a rapid 47 off just 35 balls in the opening innings and going undefeated on 29 in the second.
Once again, young Yashasvi Jaiswal will be someone to keep an eye on. During the Bangladesh series, he was unstoppable, hitting three fifties and 189 runs with a strike rate of 81. In addition to Shubman Gill (164 runs) and Rishabh Pant (161 runs), K L Rahul made a welcome comeback to form in Kanpur with a half-century (68).
Along with his spin partner Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin demonstrated his worth at the bat by helping India win the first Test in Chennai with a century.
With 11 wickets, Ashwin also led the bowling statistics. He shared the most with Jasprit Bumrah, the vice-captain for the New Zealand series.
Interestingly, during the Bangladesh series, India only deployed five bowlers, including Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Jadeja, all of whom performed admirably.
In the opening match in Bengaluru, which may be impacted by rain, India will stick with the same bowling combination.
Following their dismal performance in Sri Lanka, New Zealand will be hoping for a comeback. The new captain, Tom Latham, wants his group to equal India’s aggression.
Tim Southee resigned after their disaster in Sri Lanka last month, and Latham assumed full-time captaincy.
Due to his subpar performance with the ball in the previous season, Southee’s spot in the team is also seriously under doubt.
In Sri Lanka, New Zealand’s batters suffered greatly against the turning ball, giving up 37 of their 40 wickets to spinners. Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, and Daryl Mitchell make up the batting unit, and they hope their IPL experience in Indian conditions proves helpful.
In addition to their reliance on spin to win, India’s pace attack, spearheaded by Bumrah, has shown itself to be quite effective on the country’s slow wickets.
Ajaz Patel, a left-arm spinner from Mumbai, New Zealand, will try to resurrect some old magic from his past when he plays in India. In the Mumbai Test of 2021, he became just the third bowler in the history of Test cricket to take all ten wickets in a single innings.
Since making his Test debut in 2015, left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner has only taken 54 wickets in 28 matches. He could not secure more than one wicket in the two-Test series he played in Sri Lanka. He made his last appearance in his three-Test series with India in 2016, taking ten wickets at an average of 52.
India will be cautious in maintaining the winning momentum as it aims to build on its recent tour of Australia and the crucial World Test Championship points at stake.
Except for injuries, Safaraz Khan, Axar Patel, Dhruv Jurel, and Kuldeep Yadav are not expected to play against New Zealand. They did not participate in the Bangladesh series.
India is proud of its successful track record at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium. They last experienced defeat at this location almost 20 years ago, having lost to Pakistan in 2005. They have since won the last three games and five of the previous eight tests. All three of New Zealand’s games in Bengaluru have ended in defeat.
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Virat Kohli, K L Rahul, and Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper) are the likely members of the playing XI.
Who should be in India’s starting eleven for the opening Test match against New Zealand?
When the Indian cricket team plays the New Zealand cricket team, also known as the “Kiwis,” they will be up against a fierce opponent. India has been a constant presence in international cricket thanks to their potent bowling assault and solid batting lineup. Even with their strong performances and unwavering attitude, the Kiwis must perform at their best to win against the Indian powerhouse.
Batting is one of the main areas where New Zealand will need to shine. They must find a means to score runs while regularly opposing India’s elite spin bowlers. It will be vital for the Kiwis to form alliances and build on victories. Their bowlers must also be disciplined and economical to limit India’s potent batting order. Fielding for New Zealand will also be crucial, since they have to prevent expensive mistakes that could give India the upper hand.
Although India is the favorite, the Kiwis have already demonstrated their ability to surprise opponents on their day. They can bring competition to the series with their tenacity and willpower. They must, however, carry out their strategies perfectly and seize any chances that present themselves.
