The Indian Cricket Team begins its second series of the World Test Championship Cycle of 2023 tomorrow against New Zealand. The Indian team has rested several senior players for the match and there are many new faces on the team. The Kiwis too have rested Trent Boult and Devon Conway. The latest update is that KL Rahul, India’s first-choice opener in tests is injured and will not be a part of this series. Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian middle-order batsman is set to replace KL Rahul. Here is a look at the teams, schedules, and venues: –
Schedule, Toss, Pitch: –
1st Test Match, Kanpur. 8:30 am broadcast starts. 9:30 am game begins.
Win the toss and bat first.
The pitches in North India offer swing early in the morning. Apart from that the Kanpur wicket remains dry and doesn’t offer bounce as well. By the end of the day, as the sun sets, there is reverse swing on offer due to the cool breeze. The ground is a level playing field for both the departments.
Predicted Playing XI of India: –
Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha/KS Bharat, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Umesh Yadav/Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Siraj.
Predicted Playing XI of New Zealand: –
Tom Latham, Rachin Ravindra/Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Niel Wagner.
Preview of Indian Cricket Team: –
The absence of several senior players can bother the team a bit. Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, and, Mohammad Shami are the players who are rested. These are 6 players of the first 11 that the Indian Cricket Team plays on any important match day. This allows India to test its bench strength. Shubman Gill will get the opportunity to open the innings in absence of KL Rahul. Mayank Agarwal too will get a chance. Either Shreyas Iyer or Suryakumar Yadav will be making their India debut in all whites tomorrow. It is most probably Shreyas Iyer itself. Apart from that India will look to play all three of its frontline spinners. Axar Patel will get his chance as a reward for an exceptional series against England, earlier this year.
Preview of New Zealand Cricket Team: –
The New Zealand Cricket Team has a few absentees. Their strike bowler Trent Boult has been rested. Devon Conway also misses out on this series due to an injury. The absence of Devon Conway opens the doors for either Rachin Ravindra or Daryl Mitchell. Most cricket experts say that Rachin Ravindra will be chosen as he has the experience of opening the innings. In the absence of Trent Boult, the responsibility gets added on Tim Southee and Niel Wagner. Tom Latham and Ross Taylor can happen to be the trump cards for the Blackcaps. Latham has a good experience of playing spin. On the other hand, Ross Taylor has toured India several times.