India kicked off the tour to New Zealand by winning the first two T20Is in Auckland stylishly. Virat Kohli’s men are now the favorites to clinch the five-match T20I series. Next, the Kiwis will play India in an ODI series of three matches, starting from February 5.
Going by the brilliant performance of the Asian powerhouse in white-ball cricket, there are expectations that they will beat New Zealand in the two-match Test series which is beginning from February 21.
Currently, Sourav Ganguly, who is the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), wishes Team India registers a victory in the Test series.
India has so far picked up only squads for T20Is and ODIs in New Zealand. For the selectors, it will not be an easy task as KL Rahul has made a comeback.
In one series, Rohit Sharma also established himself as a Test player (he was named as the man of the series against South Africa).
Then there is Mayank Agarwal, a Karnataka batsman, who had a memorable Test debut against Australia in 2018-19. He also scored a double hundred in the series against the Proteas.
Moreover, in the place of Shikhar Dhawan, who was injured, the young Prithvi Shaw has been picked up for the New Zealand ODIs. If he delivers, then for the opening slot, there could be yet another claimant in Tests since Shaw has already made his name in that format.
For India, KL Rahul Has Been Sublime
Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra, a former Test opener of India, when posed the question by a fan as to who according to him should open in Tests. Chopra said that Rohit and Mayank would be his preference.
This duo had a terrific outing against the Proteas last year at home. After 2008-09 in New Zealand, India hasn’t won a single Test series. The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led India won against the Kiwis in a three-Test match series 1-0.
