There is hardly any doubt that Team India under Rohit Sharma start as favorites for the 1st Test in Bengaluru as the IND vs NZ series kicks off on Wednesday. Look, with important WTC points at stake, the hosts would want to finish the Test with nothing less than a win, but if only the weather permits them. Yes, the weather forecast for Bengaluru isn’t great for the next five days, with a 60% chance of rain, with a prediction of a washout on the first day.
But as is the case with this uber-talented Team India, they just find ways to win at home. That was amply clear in the IND vs BAN Test, when they beat the neighbours hands down, in Kanpur, where close to two-and-a-half days were lost due to inclement weather. Having said that, this time the opposition will be a tricky New Zealand side, who aren’t in their best of form in Tests this year, but somehow do well against India.
IND vs NZ 1st Test in Bengaluru, Chinnaswamy Stadium
India is coming on the back of an emphatic 2-0 victory over Bangladesh, while on the flipside, the Kiwis, in the absence of Kane Williamson look depleted, especially after their 0-2 drubbing against an ordinary Sri Lankan side. In that case, all eyes will be on the experienced Tom Latham, Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell.
Against India, Conway has played a Test and scored 36 runs, Latham has scored 547 runs in 9 Tests at an average of 32, followed by Mitchell’s 68 runs in a solitary match. So, in short it will be a struggle for the Kiwi batsmen, against the likes of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, only if they manage to get past Jasprit Bumrah and latest pace sensation Akash Deep.
No Shubman Gill, No Problem
There are question marks over Shubman Gill’s availability due to a stiff neck, but that should hardly bother Gautam Gambhir & Co. They have two suitable replacements in Sarfaraz Khan, and Dhruv Jurel, who can create the same impact in the match. As for the New Zealand bowlers, apart from Tim Southee, the bowling lacks depth for sure. If Ajaz Patel can create an impact also remains to be seen, since he has picked up 17 wickets in the 2021 series, in two matches, including a 10-wicket haul in Mumbai.
In fact, he is the only potent threat, if one looks from far. But then, his wickets alone won’t help, since India had gone on win that Mumbai match in a convincing fashion too.
Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli Would Want to Strike Form
It must be admitted that India will be chasing their 18th Test series win at home, on the trot. Just before the all-important Border-Gavaskar trophy, the team would also want Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to strike form, and the duo are long due. In the eight Tests this year, skipper Rohit has only scored 497 runs at an average of 35, while Kohli has made 157 in three encounters.
India Probable XI:
Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Mohammad Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah.
New Zealand Probable XI:
Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner/Matt Henry, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel.
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