Both India and New Zealand fielded one uncapped player each in the first Test of the series starting today in Kanpur. India handed the Test cap to Shreyas Iyer while the Blackcaps handed Test debut to Rachin Ravindra.
India had already announced Iyer’s debut in the game while New Zealand had only hinted at playing a three-man spin attack that led to the possibility of playing Ravindra as a spin-bowling all-rounder.
Former India batsman Sunil Gavaskar handed Iyer his maiden Test cap while Rachin Ravindra was handed his Test cap in the dressing room last night by Tom Blundell.
India are significantly under-strength with as many as six of the first choice picks including the skipper Virat Kohli missing out from the first Test while opener Rohit Sharma, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has been rested from the entire series.
Both sides played three spinners in their playing XI and that could tell a lot about the nature of the pitch at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur.
The two-match Test series is part of the next round of the World Test Championship and both New Zealand and India are making a fresh start after meeting in the final of the maiden edition of the World Test Championship.