Skipper Kane Williamson on Wednesday said New Zealand will not start as favorites despite the Indian team facing a lack of several key players as the world’s two top-ranked teams prepare for a spin battle in their first Test. Hosts India rested skipper Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, while opener KL Rahul was ruled out of the two-Test series on Tuesday following a leg injury. New Zealand are the number one Test team and world Test champions, but are still wary of the hosts, who have often proved formidable in home conditions.
“I don’t think we are the favourites,” Williamson said on the eve of the first Test in Kanpur.
“One of the major strengths of Indian cricket is its depth. India have great knowledge of their conditions, we know the challenge is huge.”
Williamson’s eight-wicket win against India in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) in Southampton in June would be a revenge for the hosts.
New Zealand have filled their team with five spinners and are looking to play three of them in the match.
“As we have seen in this part of the world, the spin component has been huge and has played a big role in changing the complexion of the game,” Williamson said.
“I am sure that throughout the series, the spin component will be a factor and it will be no different in Kanpur. It will all be about assessing the conditions at the earliest.”
India’s stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane said his team will miss the first-choice players but was ready to stand in their place and be counted.
Rahane said, “This is an opportunity for the youth to support themselves and play with freedom.
He brushed aside concerns of his poor form and said he was just one game away from scoring a big total.
“I worry about how I can contribute to the team. You can’t score a century every time you bat.”
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The 33-year-old Rahane scored a Test century in December but failed to impress in the home and overseas series against England. He scored 49 and 15 in the WTC finals.
The captain did not reveal his team composition for the Kanpur match, but did confirm that batsman Shreyas Iyer will make his Test debut on Thursday.
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