The much-anticipated India vs New Zealand Test series is set to kick off at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on Wednesday. However, heavy rain in the city threatens to disrupt the opening match. Both teams were forced to cancel their training sessions on Tuesday due to showers. The weather forecast indicates that rain could impact play on the first two days of the Test.
New Zealand, already facing challenges, must navigate not only the weather but also India’s formidable form at home. India recently demonstrated its resilience by defeating Bangladesh in just two days in the second Test of their previous series. The Kiwis are relying heavily on their spinners, including Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, and Ajaz Patel, to handle the Indian conditions.
A Tough Task for New Zealand
New Zealand has a poor track record in India, with their last Test win on Indian soil dating back to 1988 in Bombay. Since then, they have played 19 Tests in India, suffering ten losses and drawing nine matches. To make matters worse, their star batter Kane Williamson is ruled out for the first match due to a groin injury. Additionally, fast bowler Ben Sears is sidelined due to injury, and his replacement, Jacob Duffy, will not arrive in time for the start of the match.
New Zealand is coming off a 0-2 series loss to Sri Lanka last month, which has dented their confidence further.
India in Commanding Form
India enters this series on a six-match winning streak. A 3-0 sweep against New Zealand would secure India’s spot in the World Test Championship final. This motivation could fuel the team’s performance despite the rainy conditions.
India might consider fielding three pacers—Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep—given the damp pitch. These pacers are well-prepared to step up in the absence of Mohammed Shami, who is unavailable due to injury.
Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who were instrumental in India’s success against Bangladesh, are expected to play a key role once again. Ashwin and Jadeja took 11 and nine wickets respectively in their previous series and are more than capable of troubling New Zealand’s batting lineup.
Key Players to Watch
Virat Kohli, who has fond memories of playing at this venue, will be looking to make an impact. Kohli’s previous performances in Bengaluru against New Zealand include a match-winning century in 2012. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who performed well in the Bangladesh series, will also be a player to watch, with captain Rohit Sharma praising his ability to excel in all conditions.
Team Lineups
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.
New Zealand: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Mark Chapman, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Blundell (wk), Ajaz Patel, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, William O’Rourke, Jacob Duffy.
The match is set to start at 9:30 AM IST, and both teams will be hoping for a rain-free start to the series.
