The India-New Zealand Test series is poised to kick off under the looming specter of rain, reminiscent of India’s prior encounter against New Zealand in Kanpur. With pivotal World Test Championship points at stake, India is keen to ensure a full match, eyeing a favorable outcome on their home turf. India, enjoying the benefit of familiar surroundings, is anticipated to hold the upper hand against a transitioning New Zealand side. However, the unpredictable climate in Bengaluru might provide some relief to the visiting team.
New Zealand arrives in India in desperate need of regrouping, following a 2-0 series defeat to Sri Lanka, a change in leadership, and the conspicuous absence of their star player Kane Williamson. The lack of experience in their bowling lineup further complicates their task. Hampered by unfavorable weather conditions, their preparations on Indian soil have been less than ideal. This makes the challenge of adapting to local pitches against a formidable Indian team even more daunting. Despite the odds, New Zealand will rely on seasoned players within their ranks to navigate these challenges. Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, both having experience in white-ball cricket in India, can somewhat bolster their resolve. Tim Southee’s previous success in Bengaluru, where he claimed seven wickets in an innings, alongside Ajaz Patel’s historic ten-wicket haul in an innings in Mumbai, provides fleeting glimpses of optimism.
To surmount what is arguably the greatest test in cricket today, New Zealand will need to muster all the confidence they can gather. Facing India on home soil represents an unparalleled challenge, with India displaying comprehensive strengths in form, skill, and experience. Notably, Indian captains like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are yet to achieve a half-century over two recent Tests against Bangladesh—a streak they are eager to rectify as they prepare for their series Down Under.
Set to commence at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 09:30 AM IST, the Test might see interruptions due to rain, particularly on the opening day.
. Such conditions may provide New Zealand with some much-needed acclimatization time in India. The pitch, which remained covered the day before the match, might retain moisture, compelling teams to contemplate reinforcing their pace attack if conditions remain unchanged.
Turning to teams’ preparations, India managed to squeeze in a complete practice session when the rain subsided two days prior to the game, but were thwarted one day ahead. During their available session, Shubman Gill’s participation was restricted with Sarfaraz Khan entering the slip-catching drills, indicating a potential change in the batting lineup due to a minor injury. On the bowling front, the weather conditions could necessitate a third seamer, likely leading India to field an unchanged bowling squad for the third consecutive Test.
India’s probable playing XI includes heavyweights: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Siraj, Akash Deep, and Jasprit Bumrah.
For New Zealand, Will Young is set to step in for Kane Williamson. The decision to field three pacers might put Mitchell Santner’s position under scrutiny, with Matt Henry ready to step up.
New Zealand’s probable lineup comprises Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner/Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, and Ajaz Patel.
Crucial statistics play into the anticipation, with Virat Kohli needing just 53 runs to surpass 9000 Test runs, despite failing to notch a fifty in his last six innings this year. New Zealand’s long-standing challenges in India add another layer, having not clinched a Test series win in 12 attempts, with their last Test match victory in India dating back to 1988.
Both teams expressed a mix of caution and determination ahead of the match. “We want to see what kind of situation is there in front of us,” mentioned Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, emphasizing the need to adapt depending on the weather’s impact on gameplay. Conversely, Tom Latham, New Zealand’s captain, acknowledged the inherent difficulties of playing away from home, especially in India, but remained optimistic about leveraging the team’s collective experience in past tours.