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Xtra Time Web Desk: India skipper Ajinkya Rahane has won the toss and opted to bat against New Zealand in the first Test at Green Park in Kanpur. Shreyas Iyer will be making his Test debut. New Zealand also handed the Test cap to spinning all-rounder Rachin Ravindra.

The hosts are going in with three spinners, two seamers combination. New Zealand have gone in with the bowling combination of 2 spinners, 2 seamers and a spinning all-rounder in form of Rachin Ravindra.

Talking about the pitch and conditions, stand in skipper Ajinkya Rahane said, It (preparation) has been good. I was part of the IPL, didn't play but was training and preparing whenever I got time. So, the prep has been good. We also had a good practice session in Mumbai. It's good to be back playing at home because we haven't played in India for a while now. Their (Virat, Rohit) absence does give the others a chance to prove themselves. It (responsibility) is there obviously but I don't think I should think too much about it. This track was a bit slow the last time we played here, but did spin later.”

India (playing XI): Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav

New Zealand (playing XI): Tom Latham, Will Young, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell(w), Rachin Ravindra, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, Kyle Jamieson, William Somerville