India vs New Zealand, 1st Test: Key player battles
After hammering Bangladesh 2-0, hosts India are set to take on New Zealand in the three-match Test series. The iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru will host the series opener, starting October 15. A star-studded Team India is set to lock horns with the Kiwis led by Tom Latham. This offers quite a few riveting player battles. Here are some of them.
Rohit Sharma vs Tim Southee
Although Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has been in fine form in white-ball cricket, he will be wary of swing in the impending Test. Challenging the Indian captain will be Tim Southee, who has dismissed him twice in five Test innings. Rohit has managed just 46 runs off just 109 balls against Southee in the longest format.
Virat Kohli vs Southee and Ajaz Patel
Southee has found success against even Virat Kohli, India's best batter across formats. Kohli aims to end his run drought in the longest format, but Southee could further defer it. The latter has dismissed Kohli thrice in 12 Test innings. Meanwhile, Kohli has fallen to spinner Ajaz Patel once in two Test innings. His shortcomings while facing spinners has been exposed of late.
Tom Latham vs Ravichandran Ashwin
New Zealand will miss the servies of Kane Williamson, one of the most technically sound batters, in the series opener. A groin strain has ruled him out of the same. Skipper Tom Latham will have to step up in Williamson's absence. Notably, Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has dismissed Latham eight times across nine Test innings. The Kiwi batter averages 15.75 in this regard.
