India vs New Zealand : IDFC Bank Series 1st Test

Preview

October, 16 , 2024 , its India vs New Zealand 1st test match of the three match of the three match series. New Zealand is coming off a 2-0 defeat to Sri Lanka. They are dealing with a new captain and the absence of their star player, Kane Williamson. Their bowling lineup lacks experience. Bad weather in India has also disrupted their preparations. This has made adjusting to the pitches even more difficult. However, experienced players like Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, along with captain Tom Latham, offer some stability. Tim Southee’s strong past performance in Bengaluru and Ajaz Patel’s remarkable ten-wicket haul in Mumbai provide some hope for the team.

India is currently in a situation similar to their previous Test in Kanpur, where rain was a major concern. With valuable World Test Championship points at stake, they are hoping for a full game to push for a favorable result. India is the clear favorite in home conditions, especially against a New Zealand side going through a difficult transition. However, the overhead weather conditions in Bengaluru might reduce the pressure on the New Zealand team.

India favorite at Home Conditions

Playing India at home is one of the toughest challenges in Test cricket. India has a well-rounded team with both experience and strong form. They are well-prepared on all fronts, making it difficult for any opposition. Additionally, key batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are eager to improve their performance after not scoring a fifty in the recent Tests against Bangladesh, as they aim to get back in form ahead of the series in Australia.

New Zealand will need to draw confidence from their experienced players ahead of what is currently the biggest challenge in Test cricket. India’s home advantage, coupled with their all-round strength, presents a daunting task for the visitors. Despite the odds, New Zealand will hope that past performances from players like Tom Latham, Tim Southee, and Ajaz Patel can help them in this crucial match.

India vs New Zealand : Team News

India: India was able to have a full practice session when the rain stopped two days before the game but couldn’t practice the day before. Shubman Gill took part in fewer activities. Sarfaraz Khan was seen doing slip-catching practice. If Gill is injured, Sarfaraz might replace him in the batting lineup. As for the bowling, the conditions suggest that India might need a third fast bowler, so they could stick with the same bowling lineup for the third Test in a row.

New Zealand: New Zealand’s squad picked Will Young for the spot, despite Mark Chapman being the backup for Kane Williamson. Mitchell Santner is under pressure to keep his place. He averaged 197 and was outbowled by Glenn Phillips in the series against Sri Lanka.

India vs New Zealand 1st Test schedule

Match start time : Wednesday, 16 October 2024 at 9:30 AM IST

Venue : M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

India vs New Zealand Probable Playing 11

India : Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Mohammad Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah

New Zealand : 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

India vs New Zealand : Interesting Facts

Virat Kohli is just 53 runs short to 9000 Test runs. In his last six innings in this year he has not scored a single fifty plus score.
The last time New Zealand won a Test series in India was back in 1988 at Wankhede stadium