IND VS NZ 1ST TEST

The much-anticipated Test series between India and New Zealand is here, and it’s set to be a thriller, with both teams eyeing a spot in the 2025 World Test Championship final. India has been riding high, dominating Bangladesh in the recent T20I series and sweeping aside their neighbors in a 2-0 Test win as well. Now, with a largely unchanged squad, the Men in Blue are ready to bring the heat at home once again. India’s batting line-up is in red-hot form, especially young sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has been smashing records left and right with over 900 runs at an average above 60 in 2024. While Shubman Gill has been a bit inconsistent, his recent ton will give him confidence heading into this crucial series. At the top, Rohit Sharma continues to play selflessly, putting pressure on bowlers from ball one. And of course, having Virat Kohli in the middle is a blessing for any team. He’s hungry to rediscover his best and what better way to do that than against a solid outfit like the Kiwis? Rishabh Pant, as always, will look to thrill with his fearless style, and with KL Rahul further bolstering the middle order, India’s batting has depth. The real X-factor, though, is the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. On Indian pitches, these two are unstoppable, and New Zealand knows it. They tore apart Bangladesh, but even had to dig deep with the bat when the top order faltered in the last series. Ashwin's century on his home ground showcased just how vital he is to this team. And then there’s Jasprit Bumrah. The man is simply lethal, picking up wickets at will across all formats. His pace and precision will be a nightmare for the Kiwis, who also have to contend with solid support from Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj. If India opts for an extra spinner, Kuldeep Yadav is ready to step in. New Zealand, meanwhile, is facing an uphill battle. Fresh off a 2-0 series loss to Sri Lanka, things aren’t looking great for the Kiwis, and missing their talismanic batter Kane Williamson only adds to the pressure. Tom Latham, in his first series as Test captain, will have a mountain to climb in sub-continent conditions. New Zealand’s weakness against spin was brutally exposed in Sri Lanka, and India’s spinners are on another level. Rachin Ravindra will be key for them, having shown his grit before in the last tour here saving a Test. He was also the only batter who scored freely against the Lankans. The likes of Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips will need to step up big time and they bring in that aggressive approach in that middle order. On the bowling front, Ajaz Patel is their biggest hope. He took 17 wickets on his last tour of India, but can he repeat that magic? Tim Southee fresh from giving up the leadership role and the emerging William O'Rourke will need to find firepower to rattle India’s batting. With the hosts needing just three wins from their last eight matches to book a spot in the WTC final, they are in a strong position. New Zealand, however, has a much tougher path, needing to win all six of their remaining games. The odds are against the Kiwis, but Test cricket has a way of delivering surprises. Can India continue their dominance at home? Or will the Kiwis pull off a stunning upset? Buckle up, because this is going to be an epic battle!