New Zealand have surprisingly gone named three spinners – Mark Craig, Ish Sodhi, and Michell Santner – in their starting lineup.
New Zealand have surprisingly gone named three spinners – Mark Craig, Ish Sodhi, and Michell Santner – in their starting lineup.
Vijay and Pujara are doing a fine job to keep India's run-rate ticking. While Santner and Mark Craig managed to control the run flow, the Indian duo has managed to break the shackles as the hometeam nears the 100-run mark.
India 50/1 from 14 overs:
JAI HIND - #500thTest @Paytm Test Cricket #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/d3pGhAoLL1
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 22, 2016
And we are off -- India are on their way to play their 500th Test.
India 89/1 from 26 overs:
India have lost KL Rahul after a fluent start. Quicker delivery from Santner and Watling has held onto a brilliant catch. The Indian opener scored 32 off 39 balls. Cheteshwar Pujara has joined Murali Vijay in the middle.
India 22/0 from 7 overs: Both KL Rahul and Murali Vijay have gotten off to a good start, taking the score to 22/0 in seven overs. The India openers seem to be taking a two-pronged approach to the game. While Vijay (2) is playing the sheet-anchor role, Rahul (20 is taking the attack to the NZ bowlers.
Kanpur: India are all set to take to the crease in their 500th Test match, after skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first, against New Zealand, in the first game of the three-match series at the Green Park in Kanpur, on Thursday.
This is the start of a long home season for Kohli and his men, who are set to play 13 Test matches, with teams like England, Australia, and Bangladesh also schedulet to travel to the subcontinent, later this year.
New Zealand, who are better known for their pace attack, have surprisingly named three spinners – Mark Craig, Ish Sodhi, and Michell Santner – in their starting lineup. However, their ace fast bowler Tim Southee has been left out of the XI due to injury.
On the flip side, India have gone for a deep batting lineup, with nine recognised batsmen in the team. However, Kohli is set to miss out on the services of his most experienced paceman Ishant Sharma, who is out injured.
Lineups:
New Zealand XI: Latham, Guptill, Williamson, Taylor, Ronchi, Santner, Walting, Craig, Sodhi, Boult, Wagner.
India XI: Vijay Rahul, Pujara Kohli, Rahane, Sharma, Ashwin, Saha, Jadeja, Shami, Yadav.
