India take on New Zealand in the first Test of the three-match series in Kanpur Thursday, hoping to maintain their history of never losing a home Test series to the Kiwis. The visitors have not beaten India in an away Test match for almost three decades and that will be something that they will be hoping to correct as they take on the hosts in the first Test.
Also read: India vs New Zealand 2016, 1st Test Preview: Live Streaming info, probable playing XI and match details
While India undeniably hold the upper hand in terms of form and history in the longest format of the game, the 55th Test match between the two sides will certainly be interesting as it will see two young teams with big futures ahead of them, taking each other on.
Also read: India vs New Zealand 2016: Predictions and tour schedule
New Zealand may not have won a Test series in India and it will be interesting to see how they go about toppling an in-form side in their own backyard.
In this article, we statistically compare the expected playing XIs of both sides and attempt to judge which team will start the contest as favourites. The winner between each duo has been judged only by T20 career stats and not talent, form or anything else.
| India | New Zealand | Who’s better? |
|---|---|---|
Murali Vijay Runs – 2,637, Avg – 40.56, 100s/50s – 6/12 | Martin Guptill Runs – 2,427, Avg – 29.59, 100s/50s – 3/16 | India |
KL Rahul Runs – 492, Avg – 37.84, 100s/50s – 3/1 | Tom Latham Runs – 1,554, Avg – 38.85, 100s/50s – 5/7 | Sample too small to judge |
Cheteshwar Pujara Runs – 2,482, Avg – 46.83, 100s/50s – 7/7 | Ross Taylor Runs – 5,599, Avg – 47.85, 100s/50s – 15/25 | New Zealand |
Virat Kohli Runs – 3,245, Avg – 45.06, 100s/50s – 12/12 | Kane Williamson Runs – 4,393, Avg – 51.08, 100s/50s – 14/22 | New Zealand |
Ajinkya Rahane Runs – 1,862, Avg – 49.00, 100s/50s – 7/8 | Henry Nicholls Runs – 221, Avg – 27.62, 100s/50s – 0/2 | Sample too small to judge |
Wriddhiman Saha Runs – 572, Avg – 27.23, 100s/50s – 1/2 | BJ Watling Runs – 2,322, Avg – 39.35, 100s/50s – 6/12 | New Zealand |
Ravichandran Ashwin Runs – 1,439, Avg – 34.26, 100s/50s – 4/6 Wickets – 193, Avg – 25.20, SR – 51.8 | Mark Craig Runs – 586, Avg – 41.85, 100s/50s – 0/3 Wickets – 48, Avg – 45.56, SR – 70.5 | India |
Ravindra Jadeja Runs – 495, Avg – 20.62, 100s/50s – 0/1 Wickets – 71, Avg – 23.42, SR – 62.6 | Mitchell Santner Runs – 146, Avg – 20.85, 100s/50s – 0/0 Wickets – 15, Avg – 29.2, SR – 68.4 | Sample too small to judge |
Amit Mishra Wickets – 71, Avg – 34.36, SR – 65.4 | Ish Sodhi Wickets – 35, Avg – 46.42, SR – 74.7 | India |
Bhuvneshwar Kumar Wickets – 35, Avg – 30.68, SR – 61.8 | Trent Boult Wickets – 158, Avg – 29.32, SR – 59.3 | New Zealand |
Mohammad Shami Wickets – 58, Avg – 34.18, SR – 55.8 | Neil Wagner Wickets – 94, Avg – 29.12, SR – 53.7 | New Zealand |
India 3 – 5 New Zealand | ||
NOTE: The lineups mentioned above are predicted teams and might not actually be the XIs that take to the field on Thursday.
Summary
While the conditions will certainly favor the hosts, both sides have packed their side with spinners and somewhat surprising, despite having a strong batting line-up, it is the visitors and India who have more experience in their ranks.
The loss of Ishant Sharma is a big blow to the hosts as Neil Wagner and Trent Boult, hold the advantage by virtue of not just more matches but also better numbers. In the spin department, India, unsurprisingly, hold the upper hand while it is only Mitchell Santner’s lack of experience that rules out an Indian spin-trio.
So the bowling is evenly split at 2-2, the visitors take the batting department owing to their experience and better numbers.
As far as the opening is concerned, it is India who hold the slight advantage as Murali Vijay’s numbers are much better and KL Rahul’s inexperience means that the Kiwis don’t have a chance to get back despite having a better second opener purely based on numbers.
In the battle between the No.3 and No.4, New Zealand come out on top in both with Kane Williamson easily beating Kohli and Ross Taylor taking the place over Cheteshwar Pujara. Henry Nicholls inexeperience means India don’t have a chance to bounce and the keeper’s slot goes to the Kiwis.
On paper, both sides have strong batting orders but the battle between New Zealand’s experienced middle-order against India's spinners should be interesting. On paper, at least, it is the visitors who hold the upper hand.
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