India vs New Zealand 1st Test: Predicted IND Playing XI

India is all set to face New Zealand in the 1st Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, and it looks likely that the team management will stick with the winning combination from their last Test against Bangladesh.

Predicted IND Playing XI

1. Rohit Sharma (c)
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal
3. Shubman Gill
4. Virat Kohli
5. KL Rahul
6. Rishabh Pant (wk)
7. Ravichandran Ashwin
8. Ravindra Jadeja
9. Jasprit Bumrah (vc)
10. Mohammed Siraj
11. Akash Deep

Bench: Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel

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With a pivotal Test series against Australia on the horizon, India’s preparations seem to be geared towards conditions favoring the pacers, leaving spinners like Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav on the bench once again.

India vs New Zealand 1st Test to have fast-paced pitch

Despite New Zealand’s resilient reputation in Test cricket, India is focused on fine-tuning its pace battery for the challenges that await Down Under. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir, the decision to play on fast-paced, bounce-heavy pitches is strategic, ensuring that the bowlers are battle-ready for Australia. The same philosophy is expected to guide the team selection at Bengaluru, where the pitch is likely to provide bounce and assist the quicks.

Historically, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has favored spin, but the conditions are expected to favor pace in this Test series. The decision to prepare pace-friendly surfaces started during the Bangladesh series, where the management prioritized getting the fast bowlers into a rhythm. Jasprit Bumrah, who has been lethal at this venue in the past, will lead a formidable attack with Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep expected to partner him.

New Zealand, led by Tom Latham, won’t be easy to conquer, but India’s bowling trio will relish the conditions. The last Test match played at Chinnaswamy (against Sri Lanka in 2022) saw Bumrah take eight wickets and Siraj showcase his familiarity with the ground, having played numerous IPL matches here. With the new ball expected to zip off the surface, the Indian pacers will look to exploit New Zealand’s batting vulnerabilities.

India’s pace-heavy approach against New Zealand may seem cautious, but it reflects the long-term vision of preparing for the crucial Australia series. The Chinnaswamy pitch will play a central role in determining the outcome of this match, and fans can expect plenty of excitement from India’s fast-bowling unit.