India’s young stars, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, are ready to take charge as the team faces New Zealand in a three-Test series starting on Wednesday. While veterans like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are nearing the end of their careers, these youngsters need to show they can carry forward the team’s legacy.
Both Gill and Jaiswal have been in good form. Gill has scored three centuries and two fifties in his last 10 Test innings, and Jaiswal has hit one double hundred (214) along with five fifties in his last eight matches. However, they need to stay consistent, especially with a tough tour of Australia just around the corner.
Though Gill has improved against pace bowlers, he still struggles occasionally with balls that swing back in. Similarly, Jaiswal often plays risky shots against fast bowlers, which has caused him to get out 12 times to pacers in just 20 innings.
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The New Zealand bowling attack, featuring experienced Tim Southee and pacers Matt Henry and William O’Rourke, will test these young guns. Kohli and Rohit, meanwhile, are looking for a spark. Rohit has two centuries in 15 innings this year but only one fifty, scoring 497 runs at an average of 35.
Kohli, who needs 53 more runs to reach 9,000 in Test cricket, is still searching for form. He has not crossed fifty in six innings this year and will hope to avoid the struggles he faced between 2019 and 2023. New Zealand’s left-arm spinners Ajaz Patel and Rachin Ravindra could also trouble him, as he has had difficulties against left-arm spinners in the past.
India’s bowlers, though, seem ready to dominate. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who shared 20 wickets against Bangladesh, will be key, especially on a pitch in Bengaluru that is likely to assist spin. Jasprit Bumrah, who took 11 wickets in two Tests against Bangladesh, will be another threat, regardless of conditions.
India may also consider their options for the fifth bowler. If they stick with the combination from the last series, Akash Deep will support Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. But with New Zealand’s recent struggles against spin and the absence of Kane Williamson due to injury, India might bring in Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel for added variety.
The weather forecast suggests there could be some interruptions, which might encourage India to go with an extra fast bowler. However, considering New Zealand’s recent struggles against spin, a third spinner could also be a smart move.
This series presents a great chance for India’s experienced players to regain form and head to Australia with confidence, while also giving their young stars an opportunity to shine.
Teams (from):
India (IND): Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.
New Zealand (NZ): Tom Latham (captain), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Mark Chapman, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Blundell (wk), Ajaz Patel, Ben Sears, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, William O’Rourke.
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