IND Vs NZ 1st Test: Kanpur's Green Park will host the first of two-match Test series between India and New Zealand. The Kiwis are the current Test cricket Champions by the courtesy of them winning the WTC Final.
Even after having a stable Test team, New Zealand has failed to win a Test match in India for more thann 33 years. They last won a Test in 1988 in Mumbai. Not like Kiwis did not get a chance to win a Test. They played 16 Test matches in India since 1988 but failed to win even a single one.
This dismal Kiwi record in India is mostly due to the domination that Indians show on their home turf. It is never easy to defeat India in India.
It will be a toughie this time for team as they would be without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul for the Kanpur Test. "We are missing a few players but it's a big opportunity for youngsters to prove themselves - this team is all about backing players - now, we are thinking about this series," Rahane said in the PC.
The last time New Zealand played India was in the WTC Final in England which New Zealand won by 8 wickets.
The series result would not have been of great significance in the pre-World Test Championship era but since the WTC cycle has begun, each Test win has its impact on the final points table of WTC. Thus, team India would love to maintain the 33-year old unbeaten record at home against NZ.