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[caption id="attachment_22909" align="alignnone" width="580"] Ravichandran Ashwin with Anil Kumble at Green Park in Kanpur. Image Source: BCCI[/caption] Internet Desk: A formidable Indian cricket team looks to be the favourites ahead of the first test match against the visiting New Zealand side. It will be a special occasion as the home team will be playing its 500^th Test match. The Indian team played its first ever Test when it was a British colony in 1932 but over the years, has established itself as a force in world cricket. The Indian team led by Virat Kohli looks to be overwhelmingly favourites against the Blackcaps on a spin friendly track under sultry conditions. With the spin trio of Ashwin, Mishra and Jadeja, the Indians would look to unsettle the Kiwi batting line up. However, the threat of rains looms large on the opening Test of the three-match series with predictions of heavy downpour in the next six days. The Indians had a long net session at Green Park with much emphasis given to the spinners. Coach Anil Kumble was seen having an extended session with Ravichandran Ashwin. Later he kept wickets against the bowling of Ashwin, pointing him where to bowl on these kinds of wicket. The Indian coach was also seen giving close catching practice to Rahane, Rahul, Pujara and Rohit. The close catching will be a key factor in this test as quite a few catches can be expected from the batsmen from both the sides. Moreover, New Zealand have not had enough practice to get ready for the series. The only warm-up game they played against Mumbai was on a flat Feroz Shah Kotla track in Delhi, where their bowlers bled runs. Martin Guptill, one of the Kiwis' best batsmen in recent times, lasted a mere 21 balls in his two innings even as Luke Ronchi staked claim for the opener's slot with a century in the second innings of that game. It was actually Mumbai who dominated the practice match with three of their batsmen striking a century each in the first innings. The key for New Zealand will be the form of three spinners – Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner and Mark Craig. The former two were instrumental in giving the Blackcaps a memorable win against India during the World T20 Group League match. Both Santner and Sodhi picked seven wickets among themselves to hand the Kiwis a comprehensive 47 runs win. But as far as test matches is concerned history is heavily stacked against the visitors, who have not won a Test on the Indian soil in their last 14 attempts. The last Test New Zealand won here was way back in 1998. In the 15-man squad, young captain Kane Williamson along with Ross Taylor is the most experienced player with five Tests here. In complete contrast, India have won nine of their last 10 Tests played at home and the only draw was against South Africa last year in Bangalore and that too because it was a weather-affected contest. The Indians are likely to go in with four bowlers with three spinners making the cut in final eleven. Md Shami may be the lone pacer in the absence of Ishant Sharma who has been ruled out due to chikungunya. But the final eleven will be decided only after looking at the wicket on Thurdsay. Indian team (likely) – Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Cheteswar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra & Md Shami