India Eye WTC Final Spot as They Face New Zealand in a 3-Match Test Series
New Zealand’s tour of India begins with the first Test at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
15 October, 2024
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India’s dominance at home continued with a commanding 2-0 victory over Bangladesh in the recent Test series, followed by a clean sweep in the T20I series. Now, New Zealand faces the daunting task of playing in Indian conditions, starting with the first Test in Bengaluru on October 16, 2024.
India has made only one change from the squad that played against Bangladesh, with Yash Dayal missing out. The team enters this series in incredible form, having won the Test series against Bangladesh in dominant fashion.
In the first Test, India secured a massive 280-run victory. Ravichandran Ashwin was outstanding, scoring a century in the first innings, while Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant added brilliant hundreds in the second innings. The Indian bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, who took four wickets in the first innings, and Ashwin, who claimed six in the second, were clinical in their performance.
The second Test was initially heading towards a draw, but India’s aggressive approach over the final two days ensured they pushed for a victory, winning by seven wickets. This showcased India’s intent to always aim for a result, even when the situation appeared challenging.
With India in this kind of form, they are rightly considered favorites going into the series against New Zealand. Currently at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) table, India looks on course for another appearance in the WTC final.
On the other hand, New Zealand enters this series after a tough 2-0 defeat against Sri Lanka. The team is undergoing a transition phase, with Tom Latham taking over the captaincy from Tim Southee.
To add to their challenges, star player Kane Williamson will miss the first Test due to injury. New Zealand last toured India in 2021, where India won the series 1-0. The first match was drawn while India won the second Test match by 372 runs. Ajaz Patel became the first New Zealand bowler to take 10 wickets in a Test innings but that was not enough to help New Zealand win.
Kane Williamson was ruled out of the first Test as he is suffering from a Groin injury. Kane had made his Test debut against India back in 2010 in Ahmedabad and he had a dream start scoring 131 in the first innings.
Historically, India holds the edge in their Test encounters, with 22 wins out of 62 matches played between the two teams. At home, India has been even more dominant, winning 17 out of 36 matches against New Zealand, losing only twice.
The weather in Bengaluru has been iffy with rain washing out the practice session and there is rain predicted for Day 1 and Day 2. The drainage facilities at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru are great so that is a bonus.
While New Zealand has given India tough competition in the past, India’s home record and recent form make them the clear favorites for this series. With the first Test starting in Bengaluru, all eyes will be on how the visitors cope with India’s strong lineup and familiar conditions.
