Last Updated on 1 month by Charbel Coorey

IND vs NZ 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs NZ 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Today| India vs New Zealand 1st Test Match Key Players| Kanpur Pitch Report

Two months and 18 days since they ‘conquered’ London in the most stunning fashion possible, the Indian Test team will return on the field on Thursday to lock horns with the reigning world Test champions, New Zealand.

The first Test will take place at the iconic Green Park in Kanpur. Last time these two sides met in a Test match, New Zealand showed just why they are such an impregnable side in swinging conditions. They were crowned inaugural world Test champions in Southampton at the expense of India and they will now look to assert their supremacy in conditions that are completely alien to their style of play.

Much has been talked about New Zealand’s rise as a Test powerhouse. While their admirers have lauded them (and rightfully so) for making the most of their limited resources to become one of the powerhouse teams in the longest format, their detractors often point to their listless away record to shrug off their rise.

The upcoming two-match series is a great opportunity for Kane Williamson’s men to show everyone that they are an all-conditions side but they will have to be at the top of their game to ensure they compete in India’s fortress.

New Zealand have never won a Test series in India. In fact, they haven’t even won a Test in India since 1988. They got blanked 0-2 and 0-3 during their last two visits in 2012 and 2016 but to be fair, they have performed admirably in the subcontinent in the last three years.

They beat Pakistan in the UAE in 2018 and managed a 1-1 draw in Sri Lanka in 2019. However, facing India in India will be a different kettle of fish altogether even though the home side is without the services of the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami and Rishabh Pant.

The spin trio of Ashwin, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja will provide a stern test to their batters as will Umesh Yadav, who is as good as anyone with the old SG ball. That India will be without their six match-winners in Kanpur and still start as favorites tells you the depth of their cricket at the moment.

But, New Zealand will fancy their chances against a batting-unit sans Rohit, KL and Virat and given the fact that Cheteshwar Pujara and stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane haven’t really set the stage on fire consistently in the last two years, they would be hoping to break into the middle order as quickly as possible.

Last time, these two sides played in Kanpur, the visitors were smashed by 197 runs thanks to the spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja, who claimed 16 wickets between them. Will the script be any different this time around?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

India:

• Mayank Agarwal: The sample size may be small but it is fair to say that Mayank Agarwal loves batting in home conditions. In six innings on home soil, Mayank is averaging 99.50, having scored 597 runs with the help of three hundreds. It also includes a couple of double tons against South Africa and Bangladesh.
• Shubman Gill: It has been an interesting year for young Gill. He started off his Test career with a brilliant tour of Australia but struggled in home conditions against England. His main struggle came against James Anderson. The likes of Tim Southee would look to exploit the same weakness in the upcoming Tests.
• Ajinkya Rahane: Last time New Zealand toured India, Rahane smashed his career best score of 188 in Indore to take his average past 50 in his 29th Test.
• Five years and close to 50 Tests later, Rahane’s average has dropped below 40 and he is in the midst of his worst phase in Test cricket. In 19 innings this year, Rahane has managed just 372 runs at an average of 19.57.
• Cheteshwar Pujara: The modern day ‘Wall’ of Indian cricket showed signs of regaining his form during the backend of the England tour.
• Pujara hasn’t scored a Test ton since January 2019 and while he has chipped in with decent match-winning contributions, he will be hoping for a three figure score in this series.
• Pujara surprisingly had a poor series at home against England earlier this year as he managed just 133 runs in six innings at 22.16 and he will be looking to shrug off the blip against New Zealand.
• His record vs New Zealand on home soil: 589 runs in 9 innings at 73.62 with three 50s and a couple of hundreds.
• Ravichandran Ashwin: The champion spinner has been at the peak of his powers across formats in the last 12 months. In Test cricket, Ashwin has taken 38 wickets in six games at an average of 18.02.
• Ashwin loves bowling against New Zealand. In seven games against them, he has taken 52 wickets at an average of 16.53 with six five-wicket hauls and three ten-for. He was the ‘Player of the series’ in the last two home series against the Kiwis.
• Axar Patel: Patel obliterated the English batters albeit in favorable conditions earlier this year. In three Tests, he claimed 27 wickets at 10.59.
• Ravindra Jadeja: The all-rounder has been one of India’s biggest match-winners in Test cricket on home soil since his debut in 2012. Since the start of 2016, Jadeja has claimed 107 wickets in 24 Tests at 23.57 besides scoring 1,000 runs at an average of 47.61.

New Zealand:

• Tom Latham: The southpaw is one of the best Test openers going around and his role will become even more crucial this time given the fact that New Zealand are without Devon Conway.
• His record vs India: 384 runs in 14 innings at an average of 29.53 with five 50+ scores.
• Kane Williamson: The Kiwi skipper made a brilliant hundred on his Test debut against India back in 2010. But since then, he has been rather ordinary against India in the longest format.
• Overall, Kane is averaging 39.47 in 22 innings against India. The average drops to 35.46 when it comes to Indian conditions. If New Zealand have to pose a serious challenge, they will need their talisman at the peak of his powers.
• Ross Taylor: Like Williamson, Ross Taylor has an underwhelming record against India, especially away from home. In 15 innings in Indian conditions, Taylor has just 382 runs at an average of 25.46 with just one hundred.
• Ajaz Patel: The left-arm orthodox played a stellar role in New Zealand’s Test series win over Pakistan back in 2018. In three games, he claimed 13 wickets, including a match-winning five-wicket haul in Abu Dhabi. He will be extremely key to the visitor’s fortunes.
• Tim Southee: The veteran seamer has an incredible record in Asia: 40 wickets in 20 innings at 25.12. In India, he has played three Tests, claiming 12 wickets at 29.66.
• Neil Wagner: The left-arm pacer has 21 wickets against India in six Tests, out of which five have come in the opposition’s den. It will be interesting to see how he fares this time around.

Stats and Facts

• New Zealand haven’t won a Test series in India in 66 years. Last time they won a Test in India was way back in 1988.
• India have dropped just two out of their last 38 home Tests, winning 31 in the process.
• India are yet to drop a Test series on home soil since losing to England 1-2 in 2012/13.
• India’s Test record in Kanpur: 7 wins and 3 defeats in 22 outings.

Possible Playing 11

India:

Ajinkya Rahane confirmed that Shreyas Iyer will make his Test debut. The top-six pick themselves with Agarwal, Gill opening followed by Pujara, Rahane, debutant Iyer and Jadeja as spin-bowling all-rounder.

Three spinners are likely to be the order of the day and with Umesh Yadav a lock in home conditions, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Siraj will likely fight it out for the second seamer’s spot.

Likely XI: Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane ©, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma/Mohammed Siraj

New Zealand:

It will be interesting to see if New Zealand go with three seamers + two spinners combination or will they bank on having three spinners.

In case, they play three spinners, then Mitchell Santner could replace Kyle Jamieson. WIll Young will likely replace injured Conway at the top of the order while Tom Blundell will take over the wicket keeping duties after the retirement of BJ Watling.

Likely XI: Tom Latham, Will Young, Kane Williamson ©, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell (WK), Kyle Jamieson/Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Will Someeville, Ajaz Patel

Kanpur pitch report and weather conditions

Green Park has traditionally been a safe haven for spinners. Last time these two sides played here, Ashwin and Jadeja claimed 16 wickets between them. Another spin friendly track may well be in the offing.

As far as the weather is concerned, it is expected to be a sunny day with  temperatures set to hover between 13-27 degree celsius. Humidity is around 64 per cent and chances of rain is minimal.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time.

Option 1:

Team 02:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: Wriddhiman Saha
• Batsmen: Kane Williamson, Cheteshwar Pujara
• All-rounders: R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja
• Bowlers: Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee

Match Prediction

India will start as massive favorites and should win despite their habit of starting a Test series slowly..