New Delhi: Supported by their T20 Clean Sweep, India will see to avenge their defeat in the final of the world test championship when they hosted New Zealand who was tired of the first test at Kanpur from Thursday.
Indians have been injured since eight of the goal hammered by black hat Kane Williamson in the final of the Gratugal World Test Championship in Southampton in June.
But they direct the tourists, runners-up at the T20 World Cup earlier this month, in the series of three matches recently, giving them the belief that they can start a new world championship cycle in the winning style.
But India – Under the new coach Rahul Dravid and the second in the test ranking behind New Zealand – will be without their opening Rohit Sharma, who has chosen out of the two-test series, and captain of Virat Kohli.
Rahul Dravid (Photo of Ani) Kohli will return for the second test in Mumbai in early December while Ajinkya Rahane will lead the party in his absence at Kanpur.
New Zealand will be driven by Captain Williamson’s return, which was rested from the T20 game after a tiring schedule that saw his team traveling to India, only the day after losing the World Cup final in Dubai.
The World Cup itself follows the heat on the Indian Premier League heel.
India failed to get to the T20 World Cup semi-final after going to Pakistan and New Zealand, a exit that at least allowed them to breathe.
It was clearly helpful, with India exploring to a clean sweep from New Zealand who looked tired in three matches, all played in less than a week and in three different cities.
But Dravid quickly offers reality checks.
“To be honest, we have to keep our feet on the ground and become a little realistic about this victory,” Dravid said, after India won the last Sunday match with 73 walks to wrap the 3-0 series.
“(This) is not easy for New Zealand to play the World Cup final and then appear three days later and play three matches in six days.” Black Veteran Caps Batsman Ross Taylor, returned to international action for the first time since the final test five months ago, claimed to defend the crown would be a high order.
#Indvnz | Towards the first test against India starting at Kanpur on Thursday looking forward to the series with …
https://t.co/5SyGkazBrs- Blackcaps (@BlackCaps) 1637606700000 “We’ve had years as an underdog.
But now entering as champions , I think the surprise element is lost, “Taylor said during a virtual press meeting on Sunday.
“But whenever you play at home at home you will become an underdog, are you number 1 in the world or where they sit in international cricket at the time,” said Taylor, 37.
Test Cricket returned this week and the world test campaign was @ The new ICC new team goes on! Follow the Play …
https://t.co/sk7uhjjudw- Blackcaps (@blackcaps) 1637604014000 “They are calming some players but they are still a strong side and know this condition very well.” New Zealand will tour Pakistan and England in the new WTC cycle and will host Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
Like for the T20 series, the audience will be allowed to play on Kanpur – where there has been heavy pollution – but the players will continue to survive in a tight bubble because of Coronavirus.
Forces: India: Ajinkya Rahana (captain), Kl Rahul, Maya Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha, KS Bharat, Ravindra Jadeja, R.
Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Yadav, Umesh, MD.
Siraj, prasidh krishna.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (Kapt), Tom Blundell, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Will Somerville, Southe Team, Ross Taylor, Will Young.