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After the successful completion of the two-match Test series and three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, India are set to lock horns against New Zealand in the three-match Test series. The first Test of the series will begin on October 16 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The Indian team is coming on the back of back-to-back wins against neighbours, and given the matches will be played in India, the hosts will be confident. On the other hand, New Zealand suffered consecutive defeats against Sri Lanka, and would aim to overturn the result against India.
This will be Tom Latham’s first assignment after Tim Southee's resignation as Test captain and things couldn’t get tougher as India haven’t lost a match against their Kiwi rivals in 36 years at home. Statistically, New Zealand have played 35 Tests in India, and have managed to defeat the hosts only twice, once in 1969 and next in 1988. It goes without saying that Latham would want to end the wait of 36 years. Speaking of the Indian squad, the two-time WTC finalists will aim to enter the field with the best possible XI to defeat the Black Caps and further solidify their position in the WTC 2025 finals.
Who will play the first Test - Axar Patel or Ravindra Jadeja?
Weather conditions are going to play an important role in the first Test. Due to continuous and heavy rainfall in Chennai, it is expected that the weather in Bengaluru will also be impacted. Showers are predicted during the match hours during all five days, which means that India might not opt for a spin-heavy bowling unit.
When it comes to the spinners in the team, Ravichandran Ashwin is nearing Nathan Lyon’s wicket tally, it is unlikely that the team will drop him. On the other hand, speaking of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, the former came up with 86 runs in the first Test against Bangladesh and picked five wickets in the first Test. In the second game against Bangladesh, Jadeja recorded only eight runs but picked four wickets. His contribution helped the side, and hence, it is likely that the team will continue with Jadeja in the first Test. The side may pick Patel in the next two Tests and give Jadeja a break before the prestigious BGT.
