Xtra Time Web Desk: A second string Indian team will take on New Zealand in the first test match at the Green Park in Kanpur on Thursday. The squad led by Ajinkya Rahane will be without several key players including regular captain Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah. The absence of these experienced stars opens up an opportunity for youngsters like Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer (all set to make his debut), Mayank Agarwal and Mohammad Siraj to cement their places in the test squad.
In the batting line-up for the first Test, only Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Mayank Agarwal have played more than 10 Tests. If Agarwal does well, that will keep KL Rahul on his toes and a good show from Shubman Gill will keep the team management interested in slotting him in the middle-order when the two regular openers come back.
In any sport, leader of the side is considered to have a secured slot in the side but in this Indian team, the stand in skipper Ajinkya Rahane will be batting to save his career after an average of 19 in 11 Test matches in the current season.
Two more failures in two home games could effectively mean end of the road for Rahane. Even Dravid will also find it difficult to justify the Mumbaikar’s inclusion in the Johannesburg-bound flight next month.
Similarly, for Ishant, the senior-most player in the current set-up with 100 plus games and 300 plus wickets, the situation is getting bleak by the day. With talented Mohammad Siraj waiting in the wings, it goes to be seen whether the experienced bowler will get a nod ahead of Siraj. Umesh Yadav however remains the first-choice new ball bowler.
One man, itching to go out there and reaffirm his status as world’s number one spinner will be Ravichandran Ashwin, who had been licking his wounds for the past few months after a royal snub by regular captain Kohli during the last series.
His battle with a technician-par-excellence Williamson will be a treat for lovers of Test cricket but the seasoned players like Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls will have their task cut-out against Ashwin and Jadeja. The third spinner is likely to be Axar Patel, who had a brilliant debut home series against England (27 wickets) when he last donned the whites even though Jayant looked in good rhythm.