India and New Zealand take on each other in the first Test in Kanpur from November 25. India whitewashed the Kiwis in the T20I series and completed a revenge over their nemesis who knocked them out of the T20 World Cup. The Test match starts the second cycle of the World Test Championship for both teams as well. 

India are without KL Rahul in the series who has been ruled out of series. Apart from Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami are also not a part of the Indian squad. Shreyas Iyer is all set to make his Test debut as per the latest reports across media. 

Test Cricket Back In Kanpur After 2016

All set to don the whites 🇮🇳 👌🏻

Go well, @ShreyasIyer15! 👍🏻#TeamIndia #INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/CqZ0tMWpdI

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 24, 2021

New Zealand, on the other hand,the Kiwis will get boosted by the return of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor into the squad. Trent Boult has been rested from the Test series.

Both sides have faced each other in 60 matches, with India coming out on top with 21 wins and New Zealand have bagged 13 victories. In 34 Test matches on Indian soil, India have won 16 games while losing just two games. Rest of the matches ended in a draw. 

Match Details 

India vs New Zealand, 1st Test

Venue: Green Park, Kanpur

Date & Time: November 25th-29th, at 9:30 AM IST and Local Time

Pitch Report

Kanpur historically has been a spin-friendly wicket. Ajinkya Rahane in his presser eluded to the fact as well. Both teams might have a spin-heavy bowling line-up. Green Park has hosted 22 Tests overall with the last Test being played in 2016. 

India vs New Zealand – Predicted Playing XI

India

🗣️ 🗣️ This team is all about backing everyone & playing for one another. 👍 👍

Ahead of the first @Paytm #INDvNZ Test, #TeamIndia captain @ajinkyarahane88 had this to say. pic.twitter.com/IBxSQGiMMv

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 24, 2021

Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddihman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj/Umesh Yadav

New Zealand 

What part of the Indian Test Tour is @AjazP looking forward to the most? 🏏#INDvNZ #CricketNation #Cricket pic.twitter.com/UZTQ3X0Qpd

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 23, 2021

Tom Latham, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson/Neil Wagner, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, Will Somerville

India vs New Zealand – Fantasy Team Suggestions

Fantasy Suggestion 1: Tom Blundell, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Kane Williamson (vc), Shubman Gill, Mitchell Santner, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin (c), Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, Mohammad Siraj

Tom Blundell, Ross Taylor (vc), Cheteshwar Pujara (c), Tom Latham, Mayank Agarwal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Neil Wagner, Ajaz Patel, Mohammad Siraj, Will Somerville

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