India ready to 'taste' Kiwi flavoured pace in opening Test

India's battle-hardened cricketers are ready for ir toughest challenge of World Test Championship to date as y face formidable hosts New Zealand on a spicy Basin Reserve track in series-opener beginning here on Friday. Virat Kohli's top-ranked team, with 360 points in its kitty, is certainly favourite on paper but Black Caps under Kane Williamson are experts at wearing down opposition with ir patience on pitches which turn flat as game progresses.

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New Zealand's impressive home record

last time New Zealand lost a series at home was back in March 2017 and since n have won five (10 Tests) in familiar conditions. For New Zealand, it is time to pick up pieces after ir 0-3 drubbing in Australia while current Indian team would love to reassert that y are best when it comes to winning in adverse conditions as y did in Australia last year.

open Basin Reserve ground has always been challenging for both batsmen and bowlers due to crosswinds. And new opening pair of Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal will have its task cut out against a top-class seam attack comprising Trent Boult, Tim Soue, and Kyle Jamieson, who in all likelihood will make his debut. However, absence of left arm speedster Neil Wagner, who could have created awkward angles with his short balls, will provide some respite for Indian middle-order. Wagner is on a break to welcome his first child.

New Zealand named ir 12 on day and it will be a choice between seamer all-rounder Daryl Mitchell or slow left-arm orthodox Ajaz Patel. In an open ground with overcast conditions expected, captain Kohli will t mind winning toss and unleash Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami on home team. Even Kohli admitted that his men would need to have tons of patience once track eases out as Williamson's team is kwn to play waiting game.

Kohli on importance of patience

"It doesn't matter how much patience opposition has, we have to show more patience. We can't really prepare in a manner where New Zealand show more patience and put pressure on us," skipper Kohli made his intentions clear during a media interaction.
 

While New Zealand are expected to go with four frontline pacers and may be a fifth seamer in all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme, Indian team manment might be tempted to try out Ravichandran Ashwin, who purely as a spinner, has more variety compared to left-arm orthodox of Ravindra Jadeja. wind factor in Wellington is an issue that captains need to deal with and Kohli is different as he will have to judiciously choose ends for his bowlers.

"If breeze is blowing across ground, who is more effective with inswinger or outswingers, se things you think as a captain," said Kohli. return of Trent Boult for New Zealand and Ishant for India, from ir respective injuries, will certainly bolster both sides. For India, Cheteshwar Pujara, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane will have to be foil around Shaw, Agarwal, and Vihari with ir techniques being tested.

"As a batsman, you need to think that ball might t travel in air a lot more when you are hitting against wind. So you need to be prepared to run a lot more which we experienced last time and if you have a light bat, you are in trouble. "You need to be firm with your stance and where your bat is as it can really swing around," added Kohli, who is India's best batsman by a mile.

Teams:

India (First 12): Virat Kohli (captain), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajnkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja.

New Zealand (12):  Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme,  Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Tim Soue, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling.  

Match Starts: 4 am IST. 

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 (Im Courtesy: @BLACKCAPS)