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Kolkata: India can climb to number one in the ICC Test rankings if they manage to win second which is scheduled to start on Friday at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata
History will be witnessed in Kolkata, as India will be playing its 250th Test at home.
New Zealand played some good cricket in phases during the first Test match against India in Kanpur, but it was not enough as the home side won the match on the final day.
The Black Caps will hope for an improved performance, with their homework done well. India captain Virat Kohli believes the home team have skilled players to deliver even if the visitors come up with any special plans.
Kohli is sure that New Zealand will come with better cricket in Kolkata, but the India captain will want his players to pull things back if they lag behind. They are not going into the second Test match with a pre-planned approach, but wants his team to adapt accordingly as per the match requirements, which is a hallmark of a great team.
Looking at the way India emerged victorious in a quality pitch in the first Test, Kohli's team will go into the Kolkata Test as favourites.
Adding to all this is the return of Gautam Gambhir in the national fold after two long years is subject of discussion. The spotlight has now shifted from the Eden Gardens Test to the return of the southpaw.
Gambhir has undoubtedly worked his way into the side but the last time he played a Test for India was more than two years ago when Dhoni was still in-charge. Sticking to the topic, will Gambhir get the nod ahead of his fellow Delhiite Shikhar Dhawan?
With spin not taking centre stage, leg-spinner Amit Mishra may continue to sit out. Rohit will play in all likelihood. Here is his chance to script a memorable knock and cement his place at the very ground where he smacked a hundred on Test debut.
All in all, if New Zealand use the early advantage, they can be back in the series. For India, they will leave no stones unturned to ensure the series is sealed in Kolkata itself.
Teams from
India: Virat Kohli (capt.), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Amit Mishra, Cheteshwar Pujara, Umesh Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jayant Yadav, Mohammed Shami.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (Capt.), Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, Mitchell Santner, BJ Watling (wk), Luke Ronchi (wk), Doug Bracewell, Matt Henry, Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Jeetan Patel.
Match facts
30-September to 4 October 2016
Start time 09:30 local (04:00 GMT)
