The Indian men’s cricket team, which is fresh from having completed a whitewash of Bangladesh both in Test as well as One Day International series, is set to take on New Zealand in a three-match Test series. The first Test in the home series up against the Kiwis has been slated to be held at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday (October 16). India having won the six previous Tests will be brimming with confidence, and looking forward to enjoying the same due in the course of the series against the Black Caps, who have come into the series on the back of a loss to Sri Lanka in September 2024.
As per news agency PTI, which reported on Monday, the Indian team may be looking to field three pacers in the first Test against New Zealand
There is a fair smattering of grass at Chinnaswamy track, and keeping in mind the five-match Test tour of Australia next month as well, because fast bowlers will have to do most of most of the bowling, the hosts again may use the services of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep against the Kiwis.
The weather prediction for the coming few days in Benglauru is also thick clouds and rain which also makes a strong case of going in with three quicks.
However, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir while speaking to the media has not ruled out any possibility by stating that the team will decide on the combination based on the ongoing conditions, the team being faced and the state of the wicket.
“There is a combination which depends on conditions, wicket and opposition. The best part about this dressing room is that we have a lot of quality players and we can pick any of them. We know they can do the job for us. That is what is called the depth,” said Gambhir to the reporters accompanying him on Monday during the press meet of India.
“Let’s check the pitch and the conditions tomorrow (Tuesday). Then we will talk and figure out what is the best possible combination for the game at the Chinnaswamy Stadium,” he continued.
The New Zealand batters were unable to come to terms with the spin bowlers in the previous two-match Test series in Sri Lanka last month and since in the current series there are as many as four quality spin bowlers within the fifteen-man library, the case is no different for New Zealand batters.
In response to a question on the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel in the playing XI for the first Test of the series, Gambhir quipped, “you know, actually a lot of quality, not only including Kuldeep Yadav, but a lot of other quality bowlers available in the side.” I have mentioned this earlier as well, that we do not drop anyone. We just pick the playing eleven who are fit for the purpose.”
