New Zealand vs India 2020: 3 key mini battles within the Test series

The T20I series was a clean sweep in favour of India while the home side New Zealand returned the compliment in the ODI series by winning it 3-0. It’s time for the cricketing white uniform and red ball to come out as the two sides are set to play a two-Test series that starts on 21st February at Wellington.

New Zealand have been playing some very good cricket at home in this format while India haven't lost a Test since the World Test championship was introduced. So it is expected to be a pulsating contest albeit only for two matches.

There are always many mini battles within a big one that will impact the overall result in the end. Let us look at the key match-ups in the forthcoming Test series between the 5th ranked New Zealand and 1st ranked India.

#1 Virat Kohli vs Trent Boult

One of the best batsman of all time, Virat Kohli is surprisingly having a quiet time on this tour so far. The Indian captain has scored only one fifty in the 5 T20Is and 3 ODIs which is a very poor return for the standards that he sets for himself.

The Tests could be the time India would want their skipper to stand up and score big runs because the in-form batsmen in the limited overs series, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are not in the squad. So it is upto Virat Kohli to anchor the batting along with Test specialists Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, and Hanuma Vihari.

Also see – Indian Premier League 2020 schedule

Kohli’s battle against the left arm pace of Trent Boult, who is coming back from an injury could be a very good one for the purists. If Trent Boult gets to swing the ball back into the right hander, it could be a real test for the Indian run machine.

However New Zealand would hope that they get early wickets in order to bring Kohli to the wicket while the ball is still new and swinging.

#2 Kane Williamson vs Jasprit Bumrah

What Virat Kohli is to India; Kane Williamson is to New Zealand. The best batsmen for their respective sides and hence the key wickets. The Kiwi skipper had to miss a couple of ODIs due to a shoulder injury but looked in great touch when he came back for the final match.

India’s overseas success in recent times have revolved around their seamers’ performance and at the forefront is the inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah in this format. The right-arm pacer, who was once known to be good only in limited overs cricket has now excelled with the red ball and has taken Test cricket like fish to water.

However, the way Kane Williamson handled Bumrah in the T20Is showed his class and there were signs too that batsmen around the world are getting used to his peculiar bowling action.

It would be an interesting battle between Kane Williamson and Jasprit Bumrah and the one who comes out on top will ensure that the result would go in their team's favour.

#3 Cheteshwar Pujara vs Neil Wagner

India’s glue in Test match batting line-up has been their No. 3 Cheteshwar Pujara for the last few years. He has been the fulcrum around which the innings have revolved. Pujara plays the patience game very well that allows the others to play their natural game.

New Zealand’s left arm pacer Neil Wagner was one of the very impressive bowlers last year and was the only bright spot in an otherwise poor tour Down Under a couple of months ago. The usage of short ball by Wagner has made even the best batters duck for cover and change their batting plans.

Wagner has been very successful in employing that tactics of bowling bouncers and it is expected to give a plenty of them to Indian batsmen. Wagner’s plan against Pujara could be watched very keenly through the series. Will Pujara’s patience make Wagner to alter his plan of going bodyline or the Saurashtra batsman decide to take on the bowler in order to upset the bowler’s plan will be a huge battle to look forward to.