IND vs NZ Test series: India favourite to continue great record at Kanpur

IND vs NZ Test series: Ajinkya Rahane and Co will have a job in their hands when India play New Zealand in the opening Test at Green Park Stadium. India haven’t lost at the venue since 1983 and under pressure Rahane will eye to continue Team India’s dominant record in Kanpur. Follow India vs New Zealand LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN

The iconic stadium will host a Test match after a long gap of 6 years. A Kohli and Rohit Sharma less Team India will still be confident to start on a good note after a motivational 3-0 drubbing of Kiwis in the T20I series.

IND vs NZ Test series: Ajinkya Rahane & Co expected to continue India’s magnificent form in Kanpur- Follow LIVE updates

India vs New Zealand Series: Ajinkya Rahane to lead in Kohli’s absence

Team India are unbeaten at Green Park Stadium since 1983. They have won the last 5 out of 8 Tests with 3 ending in a draw. The test team won 7 matches and lost only three games at the venue.

India had played New Zealand in their last outing at Kanpur and thrashed Blackcaps by 197 runs in Sept 2016. The two teams have met each other twice at the venue, the other game had ended in a tie (in 1976).

Ajinkya Rahane & Co will be looking to avenge WTC Final loss against Kane Williamson’s New Zealand. The return of Kane Williamson and Kyle Jamieson will only affect India chances of dominating Kiwis.

Skipper Rahane and deputy Cheteshwar Pujara will have to pass the litmus test in absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Mayank Agarwal will also be part of the core group in the batting department along with Pujara and Rahane.

The middle-order will once again be in the spotlight which failed to perform during the India tour of England. They need to perform and build momentum for the upcoming India tour of South Africa.

With Shami & Bumrah rested and Siraj injured, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav will have to perform well.

In-form Axar Patel and R Ashwin will boost India’s morale in the spin department. R Jadeja will boost lower middle-order. R Ashwin has taken 10 wickets in just a lone Test at the venue which came against the Kiwis.

With Rohit Sharma rested, the opening combination is yet to be decided. Shreyas Iyer could make his finally his debut after playing 31 T20Is and 22 ODIs for India.

Wriddhiman Saha’s batting performance will be under scanner in Rishabh Pant’s absence ahead of South Africa tour.

IND vs NZ Test series: Ajinkya Rahane & Co expected to continue India’s magnificent form in Kanpur- Follow LIVE updates

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India’s Test squad: Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Md. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna