In the opening Test match between India and New Zealand at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first. The first day of the match was washed out due to rain, leaving both teams with only four days to play for a result. India, aiming to maintain its strong home record in the Test format, is looking to build on its past performances, while New Zealand hopes to recover from a recent 2-0 series whitewash against Sri Lanka. Notably, New Zealand has not won a Test series in India in their past 12 attempts, with their last Test victory on Indian soil dating back to 1988 at Wankhede Stadium.
Speaking after the toss, Rohit Sharma acknowledged the sticky conditions due to the pitch being under covers but emphasized the importance of putting runs on the board first. He also highlighted changes in the Indian playing XI, with Sarfaraz Ahmed replacing Shubman Gill, who is unavailable due to neck stiffness, and Kuldeep Yadav coming in for Akash. Rohit emphasized the team’s desire to start the fresh series on a strong note.
New Zealand captain Tom Latham mentioned the impact of the weather on their preparation and expressed hope that his team could capitalize on the pitch conditions early with the ball. The Kiwis have opted for three seamers along with spinner Ajaz Patel, and their lineup includes two spin-bowling all-rounders. Both teams are set for an intriguing battle, with India hoping to maintain dominance at home and New Zealand aiming to break their long-standing winless streak in India.
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
New Zealand (Playing XI): Tom Latham(c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell(w), Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, William ORourke.
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