India vs New Zealand, Kanpur Test: Match Preview  

Kanpur: It will be Indian Cricket team’s 500^th Test match which will mark the beginning of the 13-Test-match long home season when India will take on the Kane Williamson led New Zealand in the first Test of the three-match series beginning Septembers 22 at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur.

Virat Kohli and company has already lost its first wicket in the form of pacer Ishant Sharma following his illness due to Chikungunya but this could not come as a major blow for the team as Green Park is expected to offer spin friendly track.

Indian head coach Anil Kumble had said that no replacement of Ishant has been sought yet.

On the other side, Black Caps have also lost Tim Southee due to his injury and Matt Henry has been called as former’s replacement.

India:

• As far as the opening is concerned, Shikhar Dhawan would be yet again experimented despite his lacklustre form.
• With Cheteshwar Pujara in midas touch, the competition would be between Murali Vijay and KL Rahul for making place in the squad.
• The captain and the Vice-captain i.e Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane would be major charm of the batting line up. At one hand Virat will strengthen upper middle order and on the other hand Rahane will power the lower batting order.
• The existence of Wriddhiman Saha, R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra and Bhuvneshwar Kumar could brace India’s batting.
• Despite getting plenty of chances, Rohit Sharma has disappointed the entire nation.
• As Green Park will have a spinning track, the prime responsibility will be on spinner Ashwin, Jadeja and Amit Mishra who are expected to be included in the playing 11.
• According to the pitch curator, pacers Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav could also bag some wickets if India bowled on Day 1.
• In the last 10 games, India has won nine out of it.

New Zealand:

• Eyes will be on Martin Guptil who is going through the best phase of his career.
• It will be a challenging contest for the Kiwis as they failed to outshine India on its soil in the last 14 attempts. New Zealand had won its last game in India in 1998.
• Ross Taylor and skipper Williamson have to use their experience to get par from Indian spinning attack.
• NZ also stores spinner’s trio Mitchell Santer, Ish Sodhi and Mark Craig which could make things difficult for Indian batsmen.

India: Virat Kohli (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, R.Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Henry Nicholis, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santer, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling

Also read: We are working to play spinners well in 500th Test: Virat Kohli

Also read: Galaxy of former skippers including Sachin to be seen at Green Park

Also read: The Green Park diary of records before Ind-NZ clash

Also read: Ishant Sharma ruled out of Kanpur Test, suffers chikungunya