After the victory of the Test series in front of the team BangladeshHe is preparing to face the Indian team New Zealand in a highly anticipated situation three-match Test series. The first Test is scheduled to begin on October 16 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. It will be an important series for both teams as it is part of the series World Test Championship (WTC) cycle with decisive points on the line. Under the leadership of India Rohit Sharmawill aim to extend their home advantage, while New Zealand will look to challenge India’s impressive home record.
India dominates the WTC rankings, while New Zealand looks set to buy
India continues to assert its dominance in the ongoing WTC, sitting comfortably at the top of the table with 98 points. After 11 matches, India have an impressive record of eight wins, two losses and one draw. In contrast, New Zealand are struggling in 6th place after a 2-0 defeat. Sri Lanka. This upcoming series is crucial for both teams as important WTC points are at stake. A win for India will cement their position for the WTC finals, while New Zealand aim to revive their campaign and stay in contention for the all-important final.
India’s best playing XI for Test series against New Zealand
1. Rohit Sharma (Captain and Opening Batter)
Power: Rohit, who has led India in the Test arena, will be tasked with providing a solid start. His ability to both anchor the innings and shift gears when required will be crucial in setting the tone for India. Known for his ability to dominate bowlers in subcontinental conditions, his aggressive yet composed approach will be key to laying solid foundations.
Role in Indian pitches: Rohit’s vast experience on Indian surfaces gives him a distinct advantage. His ability to handle both pace and spin effectively, especially against spin routes, makes him a key figure. Indian pitches often tend to favor the batsmen, but it can become difficult as the spinners come into play and Rohit’s adaptability will be crucial to India’s success.
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal (Opening Batter)
Power: Young Jaiswal has impressed in his recent outings, showing maturity beyond his years. As Rohit’s partner, his main role will be to complement the captain by rotating the strike and exploiting scoring opportunities, especially against the new ball.
Role in Indian pitches: Jaiswal’s aggressiveness and ability against spin make him a valuable asset on Indian surfaces. His positive mindset allows him to pick up the spinners early, which can put pressure on the New Zealand bowlers once the pitch starts to wear.
3. Shubman Gill (Top Grade Batter)
Power: Gill looks like the backbone of India’s batting line-up. His shot-making ability and sound technique make him a reliable No. 3 option. Gill’s balance between defense and aggression will play an important role in stabilizing the batting.
Role in Indian pitches: Gill’s anti-spin technique and quick footwork enable him to negotiate tricky Indian tracks where variable bounce and spin can be a factor. His composure under pressure is a major asset, especially when playing on pitches prone to deterioration.
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4. Virat Kohli (Medium dough)
Power: Kohli’s presence in the middle order is invaluable. He thrives in high-pressure situations and his aggressive yet calculated approach can turn the tide in India’s favour.
Role in Indian pitches: With a proven track record on home soil, Kohli’s ability to dominate the spinners, especially with the wrist shot, makes him a big challenge for the New Zealand bowlers. Indian pitches often break down as the game progresses and Kohli’s ability to adjust and build long shots will be critical.
5. KL Rahul (Middle Batter)
Power: Rahul provides stability in the middle order. His versatility allows him to switch between a defensive or aggressive approach depending on the match situation.
Role in Indian pitches: Indian pitches are often slower and offer spin, requiring batsmen to play with patience and caution. Rahul’s technique and experience will help him handle such conditions and his ability to handle both spin and pace will be crucial.
6. Rishabh pants (gatekeeper-fruit)
Power: Known for his aggressive batting, Pant can change the course of the game with his counter-attacking style. His quick reflexes behind the stumps make him an excellent keeper, especially against the spinners.
Role in Indian pitches: Pant’s ability to attack the spinners is well-suited to Indian pitches, where the turning tracks can often stifle the less experienced batsmen. His bold batting can unsettle the opposition and his wicketkeeping skills are crucial given the likely spin-heavy nature of the bowling attack.
7. Ravindra Jadeja (All-rounder)
Power: Jadeja’s all-round skills provide the much-needed balance to the team. He is equally adept with bat and ball, making him a key player in both departments.
Role in Indian pitches: Indian tracks usually favor spinners from day three and make Jadeja’s left-arm spin indispensable. His ability to bowl long spells, spin and bounce makes him a threat to any batting line-up. Additionally, his batting prowess adds depth to India’s lower order, enabling India to post or chase competitive totals.
8. Ravichandran Ashwin (All-rounder)
Power: Ashwin is India’s ace spinner and has an excellent ability to out-spinner with his variations and clever strategies.
Role in Indian pitches: Ashwin’s experience on Indian pitches, especially on the turning tracks, is unmatched. His ability to use subtle variations in pace, flight and length make him one of the most dangerous spinners in the world, especially at home where pitches increasingly favor spin.
9. Kuldeep Yadav (Spinner)
Power: Kuldeep brings variety with wrist spin, offering a unique angle of attack compared to finger spinners like Ashwin and Jadeja.
Role in Indian pitches: Indian surfaces usually favor wrist spinners and Kuldeep’s ability to produce sharp turn will challenge the New Zealand batters. His unusual bowling style can be difficult to read, especially as the pitch deteriorates as the match progresses.
10. Jasprit Bumrah (Fast Bowler)
Power: Bumrah is expected to lead India’s pace attack with his quick pace, accuracy and ability to score in any conditions.
Role in Indian pitches: While Indian tracks are traditionally more spin-friendly, Bumrah’s reverse swing and judicious use of yorkers can be highly effective as the ball ages. His adaptability and aggressiveness make him an essential component of India’s bowling attack on any surface.
11. Akash Deep (Fast Bowler)
Power: Akash Deep is a young emerging talent who will look to make a mark with his pace and movement. He is expected to support Bumrah in the fast bowling department.
Role in Indian pitches: Akash’s ability to create bounce and seam movement, especially in the early deliveries, can cause problems for the New Zealand openers. Fast bowlers on Indian pitches often rely on reverse swing and Akash has the potential to exploit this as the match progresses.
