Match Preview:
The 1st Test between India and New Zealand, starting on October 16, 2024, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, promises to be an exciting contest. India, fresh off a series win against Bangladesh, will look to continue their momentum under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, with key players like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja in form. New Zealand, led by Tom Latham, will aim to bounce back from their recent 0-2 series loss to Sri Lanka, despite missing Kane Williamson. The Kiwis will rely on their strong bowling unit, including Tim Southee and Ajaz Patel, to challenge India on a spin-friendly pitch. Both teams will have the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) qualification in mind, making this a critical clash.
Match Details:
- Match: 1st Test – India vs New Zealand
- Date: October 16-20, 2024
- Time: 9:30 AM IST
- Day: Wednesday to Sunday
- Venue: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, India
India-(IND) Preview:
India heads into the 1st Test against New Zealand on October 16, 2024, with confidence after a convincing series win over Bangladesh last month. Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, India will look to dominate at home, where conditions often favor their spinners. With Virat Kohli and Rohit leading the batting lineup, alongside young stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, India’s top order appears strong. The return of Rishabh Pant, both as a wicketkeeper and a dangerous middle-order batsman, adds further stability to the team.
Spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, India’s bowling attack will be crucial on a Bengaluru pitch that could assist both pace and spin. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s key all-rounders, are expected to play a major role both bat and ball, particularly in exploiting the spin-friendly conditions. With the World Test Championship points on the line, India will aim to maintain their dominant record at home and set the tone for the series.
Key Players for India:
- Virat Kohli: A prolific run-scorer, Kohli’s experience and ability to play long innings will be crucial in anchoring India’s batting lineup.
- Jasprit Bumrah: Leading the pace attack, Bumrah’s skill with both the new and old ball can make a significant impact, especially on pitches that offer reverse swing.
- Ravindra Jadeja: A dynamic all-rounder, Jadeja’s spin bowling and ability to contribute valuable runs lower down the order will be key in Indian conditions.
- Ravichandran Ashwin: India’s top spinner, Ashwin is expected to thrive in Bengaluru’s spin-friendly conditions and could play a game-changing role.
- Rishabh Pant: Known for his explosive batting, Pant’s aggressive style could be crucial in shifting momentum, and his wicketkeeping will add stability behind the stumps.
New Zealand-(NZ) Preview:
New Zealand enters the 1st Test against India with a point to prove after a 0-2 series loss to Sri Lanka in September 2024. Led by Tom Latham, the Black Caps need to adapt quickly to the spin-friendly conditions in Bengaluru, where they’ve historically struggled. The absence of their star batter Kane Williamson is a significant blow, placing extra responsibility on Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, and Daryl Mitchell to step up in the batting department. Tom Blundell’s experience as a wicketkeeper and middle-order anchor will also be crucial in stabilizing the team.
New Zealand will rely on veteran Tim Southee in the bowling department to lead the pace attack, while spinners Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner will be key to countering India’s strong batting lineup. Ajaz, who previously took all 10 wickets in an innings against India, will look to replicate his success on subcontinent tracks. With the World Test Championship still within reach, New Zealand will aim to overcome their recent setbacks and put up a strong fight in the series opener.
Key Players for New Zealand:
- Tom Latham: As captain and opener, Latham will be tasked with setting a solid foundation against India’s challenging bowling attack.
- Devon Conway: A reliable and technically sound batter, Conway’s performance at the top will be vital for New Zealand’s hopes of withstanding India’s bowlers.
- Tim Southee: New Zealand’s pace spearhead, Southee’s ability to swing the ball and provide breakthroughs with the new ball will be crucial in India’s batting-friendly conditions.
- Ajaz Patel: A spinner with proven success in subcontinental conditions, Patel will play a key role in restricting India’s batting on turning tracks.
- Daryl Mitchell: As an all-rounder, Mitchell’s ability to contribute with both bat and ball adds balance to New Zealand’s side, making him a key figure in the middle order.
India Squad:
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja,Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.
New Zealand Squad:
Tom Latham (C), Tom Blundell (WK), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, William O’Rourke, Matt Henry, Will Young, Ben Sears, Mark Chapman.
Fantasy XI Players For 1st Test Match, New Zealand tour of India, 2024
- Rohit Sharma (All-rounder – India)
- Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper – India)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (Batter – India)
- Virat Kohli (Batter – India)
- Devon Conway (Batter – New Zealand)
- Rachin Ravindra (Batter – New Zealand)
- Ravindra Jadeja (All-rounder – India)
- Mitchell Santner (All-rounder – New Zealand)
- Jasprit Bumrah (Bowler – India)
- Ravichandran Ashwin (Bowler – India)
- Ajaz Patel (Bowler – New Zealand)
Captain: Ravichandran Ashwin (All-rounder – India)
Vice-Captain: Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper – India)
Pitch Report:
The pitch at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, traditionally favors batsmen early on, with good bounce and pace, making stroke play easier. However, as the match progresses, the surface tends to slow down, offering assistance to spinners, especially from Day 3 onwards. Expect a lot of turn for the spinners, making it a challenging surface for batters in the latter stages. The first two days will be crucial for setting a solid foundation, and teams winning the toss may prefer to bat first.
Weather Report:
The weather in Bengaluru could be unpredictable during the Test. Rain is likely to play a role in the match, with 41% chances of rain on Day 1 (Wednesday) and 40% on Day 2 (Thursday). The rain probability increases to 67% on Friday, but it reduces slightly to 25% on Saturday and 40% on Sunday. Interruptions and delays due to showers are possible throughout the Test, particularly in the early days.
Toss Prediction:
For the 1st Test between India and New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, the toss prediction leans towards the team winning the toss opting to bat first. Given the nature of the pitch, which tends to favor batsmen early on before deteriorating and becoming more spin-friendly, batting first will allow the team to set a solid foundation and take advantage of the best batting conditions. With rain also potentially affecting the match, captains may prefer to put runs on the board early and put pressure on the opposition by bowling in deteriorating conditions later in the game.
Match Prediction:
Here’s a match prediction for the 1st Test between India and New Zealand, expressed in percentages:
- India’s Chances of Winning: 60%
- New Zealand’s Chances of Winning: 30%
- Match Draw Probability: 10%
Rationale:
- India (60%): Playing at home with a strong batting lineup and experienced spinners gives India a significant advantage. Their recent form and historical success against New Zealand in home conditions further bolster their chances.
- New Zealand (30%): While they are a competitive side with a solid bowling attack, the absence of Kane Williamson and their recent struggles could hinder their performance against a formidable Indian team.
- Draw (10%): Given the possibility of rain interruptions, especially on the third day, a draw is a possibility, but it remains the least likely outcome.
Also Read: https://cricator.com/bcci-announces-schedule-for-india-women-vs-new-zealand-three-match-odi-series/
