India Playing XI 1st Test – IND vs NZ LIVE: Shreyas Iyer is making his Test debut as India has opted to bat 1st after winning the toss. As reported earlier by InsideSport, India has decided to play their trump cards – i.e 3 spinners in form of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin for the test. Umesh Yadav is picked ahead of Mohd Siraj and will partner Ishant Sharma: Follow India vs New Zealand 1st Test Live Updates on InsideSport.IN
IND vs NZ LIVE Score, Day 1: India batting 1st…
New Zealand (Playing XI): Tom Latham, Will Young, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell(w), Rachin Ravindra, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, Kyle Jamieson, William Somerville
India (Playing XI): Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav
Ajinkya Rahane during the toss said – “Looking to bat first. Pitch looks really good. Generally slows down later on here. It’s an opportunity for all of us here to do well here and in Mumbai. Few of the senior guys are missing. So it’s an opportunity for the youngsters. Shreyas is making his debut. We are all excited to play under the new coaching staff. I personally enjoy playing under Rahul bhai. New Zealand are a quality side. 3 spinners, 2 seamers”
India have won the toss and have opted to bat
All set to don the whites 🇮🇳 👌🏻
Go well, @ShreyasIyer15! 👍🏻#TeamIndia #INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/CqZ0tMWpdI
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 24, 2021
India Playing XI 1st Test: Shreyas Iyer in, India ready to unleash 3 spinners on New Zealand: Follow LIVE Updates
India Playing XI vs NZ 1st Test:
- Shubman Gill
- Mayank Agarwal
- Cheteshwar Pujara
- Shreyas Iyer
- Ajinkya Rahane
- Wriddhiman Saha (WK)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Axar Patel
- Ishant Sharma
- Umesh Yadav
IND vs NZ Playing XI: Trump card for India – the spin trio: The trump card for India in the ongoing Test series will once again be the spinners. The spin duo of R Ashwin & Axar Patel were on song when England toured India for 4 Test matches during Feb-March 2021.
R Ashwin picked up 32 wickets in 4 Test matches to end up as the leading wicket-taker in the series while Axar Patel finished second with 27 scalps in just 3 matches. The duo completely dominated Joe Root and Co. and played a major part in India’s 3-1 victory in the 4 match Test series.
Talking about Ravindra Jadeja, the left spin-allrounder was adjudged Man of the Match when New Zealand played at Green Park Stadium in their last India tour which dates back to 2016. Ravindra Jadeja picked up a 5-fer and also scored a fifty while R Ashwin chipped in with a 6-fer in the second innings.
IND vs NZ Playing XI: Can Shreyas Iyer deliver at No. 4? Iyer – who will be making his Test debut at Kanpur – has a big responsibility to deliver.
Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav – who was added as a replacement for injured KL Rahul – were in line to make their debut. While Suryakumar Yadav assisted Virat Kohli & Co on the England tour after WTC Final, Iyer has been preferred only because he has been on selectors’ radar for long.
Iyer hasn’t played any red-ball cricket in the last 24 months. The last time he played a First-Class match was back in 2019 in the Irani Cup & has also struggled to score runs since his shoulder surgery.
India Playing XI 1st Test: Shreyas Iyer in, India ready to unleash 3 spinners on New Zealand: Follow LIVE Updates
IND vs NZ Playing XI: Who will pair up with Ishant Sharma?
With six batters and three spinners, India will have to choose from Umesh Yadav or Mohammad Siraj to pair up with Ishant Sharma. Mohammad Siraj suffered an injury scare in the 3rd T20I but has been seen in the training session. If match-fit, he is likely to get a nod ahead of Umesh Yadav.
