🏏India vs New Zealand, 1st Test: Bengalore,16 Oct- 20th Oct Day 4🏏 - Page 2

Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

They took 20 wickets together against Bangladesh and with the Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch expected to give some assistance to spinners, the veterans might be itching to have a bowl here.

Besides the duo, the Kiwis will have to contend with the genius of Jasprit Bumrah, who rattled Bangladesh by picking up 11 wickets across two Tests.

If they persist with the combination from the last series, Akash Deep will be the third pacer behind Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.

The management will take into account the fact that New Zealand, who have already lost Kane Williamson to an injury, were put through the wringer by Lankan spinners recently.

In another blow, right-arm pacer Ben Sears has been ruled out of the series due to a knee injury. An uncapped Jacob Duffy, who has played six ODIs and 14 T20Is, has been brought into the squad.

Good Luck Virat for your IPL home ground for 9000 run Milestone coming up. We have to cross finger For result.

Uncapped jacob Duffy ( in his debut T20I Jacob Duffy took 4 fer)included as seamer Sear (injured)out of india tour.

#Jaiswal need 71 more for 1000 test runs in 2024

#S. Gill Scored 662 in 2024 at better 50 average

• The last time New Zealand played in India, Ajaz Patel became the third man in Test history to take all ten wickets in an innings
• India have already hit 97 sixes this year, going past the previous record, 89,

Can't wait for the test match to begin. It looks like the weather is going to play a spoil sport. Let us see how it holds up for the next 5 days.

Thanks for the thread Madhu.

Cheers..

Aiming to win 19th Test series at home in a row since 2012-13, India will begin its series on a high after whitewashing Nazmul Hossain Shanto-led Bangladesh national cricket team by 2-0 in a two-test series in September.

This test series is an opportunity to seal a spot for India in a third consecutive World Test Championship finals.

Head to Head

In total, India and New Zealand have played 62 Test matches, where India won 22, while New Zealand were undefeated on 13 occasions. Twenty-seven were drawn.

India vs New Zealand, 1st Test: Weather report

According to the Indian Meteorology Department (IMD), Bengaluru may experience heavy rains over the next few days.

AS per IMD's prediction, the spell between October 14 and October 17 is expected to see plenty of precipitation, with a 70-90% chance of rain on Day 1 and Day 2 of the Test match. The met department also issued thunderstorm warnings and yellow alerts in parts of Karnataka.

It seems, this year, rain is more sportive than the concerned players everywhere!!!

A Test match morning smells different. The aroma of anticipation, the fragrance of fierce battles, the scent of some engrossing cricket - all of it just gets you all pumped up, isn't it? Especially on the first day of a new Test series. In Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy stadium, it could be all of the above with a dash of petrichor or a bit of mustiness. Because, it is not good news for now.

Our man Ashish Pant has had a long travel and is now at the Chinnaswamy and says, "Morning, it's pelting down here in Bengaluru. Steady rain since around 7am and it is picking up. Traffic jams have already lined up. Looks like it will be a while before we can get any play started."

"Covers firmly in place," says Ashish. "They have been in place since yesterday morning with the rain showing no signs of relenting. But despite the water logging all over Bengaluru, there are no puddles on outfield whatsoever with the Chinnaswamy drainage system working its magic."

When India started their home season, they needed seven wins in the remaining ten Tests in order to make to put their third WTC final spot beyond doubt. Even five wins would suffice in certain scenarios, notes Sidharth Monga in the preview. Which is why this wet weather could come as a dampener for India, with five Tests lined up in Australia.

This home season has also been about India wanting to shift from primarily a batting team to an equally good bowling one. Maybe not so much in pure skill or perception but more so in the thought and functionality. Gautam Gambhir spoke about it a couple of days ago. Rohit Sharma yesterday added to it by speaking about expanding India's fast-bowling strength