India will begin its home season with a three-match Test series against the visiting Kiwi side. The first test match will start on 22nd September at Kanpur. India is favourites to win the Test series.
Let us see the comparison of five key domains which will determine the result of the first Test match.
- Openers
India has good options to choose from 3 openers in Dhawan, Vijay, and KL Rahul. With Dhawan’s recent inconsistent form, Murali Vijay and KL Rahul would be my choice to open for India in the first test. Both are in brilliant form and would make an excellent combination. As far New Zealand openers – Martin Guptill and Tom Latham – is concerned they will be playing in India for the first time. Guptill’s recent test form has been poor while Tom Latham’s defense looks solid and can play a long innings. Indian pair appears to be in better form and expected do well.
- Middle order batting
The Indian middle order looks solid with the likes of Pujara, Kohli, Rahane and Rohit Sharma. Pujara looked in great touch during the recent Duleep Trophy tournament, Kohli also has been in good touch and would be looking to make a mark with the bat, Rahane also a dependable batsman who has the ability to score runs when the team is needed. Ashwin , Wicket-keeper Saha, and Jadeja’s role as a batsman cannot be ignored. As far as New Zealand middle order is concerned, they have among Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, and Henry Nicholls, Kane Williamson looks one of the solid batsmen for New Zealand. His form in the recent past has been good but spin favouring conditions in India will test him. Ross Taylor who has played in Indian conditions will be their mainstay to score against the Indian spinners. Henry Nicholls will be playing his first tour in Indian conditions will also be tested. Mitchell Santer too can contribute with the bat.
- Bowling
Pacers- The Indian pacers have been dealt a major blow as Ishant Sharma has been ruled out of the first Test match due to illness. Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Umesh Yadav are the three pacers contending for 2 positions. All 3 pace bowlers lack experience. My choice would be B Kumar and Md. Shami. The pitch is expected to be assist pacers only in the first hour in the morning on first two days and later will be helpful for spinners. On the other hand, New Zealand’s Tim Southee has been ruled out for the series. Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Matt Henry and Neil Wagner have more pace and can bounce the ball, to trouble Indian batsmen and appear to be stronger that India, on paper at least. The Kanpur pitch is likely to favour Indian spinners.
Spinners- The Indian spinners have an advantage of playing in Indian conditions. Ashwin, Jadeja, and Mishra look tough to bat against. Ashwin has been in excellent form and would be looking to continue his excellent form, Jadeja with his line and length will not allow batsmen to score runs with ease. Mishra with his variety can trouble the New Zealand batsmen. As far New Zealand spinners are concerned Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santer, Mark Craig must bowl a consistent line and lengths to trouble the Indian batsmen.
- Fielding and Wicket keeping
Fielding plays an important role in deciding test matches. The Indian team have excellent close in fielders in Pujara, Rahane, and KL Rahul. Jadeja, Kohli, Rohit Sharma are good in the outfield with safe hands. New Zealand team too have good fielders like Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, and Williamson. The Indian team has Saha who has improved his keeping while New Zealand have two options to choose from Luke Ronchi and BJ Watling. Both are equally good and probably they score over Saha. It is the performance on the day, whoever holds on to tough catches and stumping will decide the match.
- Captaincy
The Indian team have a fearless captain in the form of Virat Kohli. He looks aggressive and the eager to win. His last test loss as a captain came in 2015 test series against Sri Lanka at Galle. Kane Williamson will be captaining the New Zealand team in India for the first time, but is known to be aggressive. He needs to set an aggressive field to dismiss the Indian batsmen and make shrewd bowling changes.