Ind vs NZ 1st Test: Gill, Jaiswal aim to counter pacers

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill are poised to lead India's charge against an unsettled New Zealand in the upcoming three-Test series, starting Wednesday in Bengaluru.
While veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are nearing the end of their illustrious careers, these young talents must demonstrate they are ready to inherit the legacy.
The early signs are promising. Gill, after a successful series against England, is increasingly comfortable with the demands of Test cricket.
His recent performances include three hundreds and two fifties in his last ten innings, showcasing his growing batting prowess.

Similarly, Jaiswal has impressed with a double century and five fifties in his last eight Test matches.
These statistics may be impressive, but they must build on this foundation against New Zealand before heading to face a more formidable challenge in Australia next month.
Gill seems to have addressed his vulnerability to in-coming deliveries, although occasional lapses remain.
In a recent series in Chennai, Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahamud managed to dismiss him with nip-backers.

Jaiswal, on the other hand, sometimes falls prey to his aggressive shots against pace bowlers, as evidenced by three recent dismissals against Bangladeshi quicks.
Overall, Jaiswal has been dismissed by pacers 12 times in his 20 innings. Improving this record before facing Australian pacers will be crucial.
These moderate concerns are crucial to address against a New Zealand attack featuring experienced hands like Matt Henry, William O'Rourke, and possibly Tim Southee despite his recent dip in form.
Moreover, the rise of Jaiswal and Gill comes at a time when Kohli and Rohit are struggling with consistency.
Rohit, in 15 innings this year, has scored two centuries but managed only one fifty in the other 13, accumulating 497 runs in eight Tests at an average just above 35.
Kohli is 53 runs short of 9000 Test runs but has yet to score a fifty in six innings this year. While Rohit's aggressive style often leads to his downfall, Kohli's case is more puzzling.
The 35-year-old has failed to capitalize on two good starts this year, scoring 46 against South Africa and 47 against Bangladesh, reminiscent of his slump from 2019 to 2023.
Kohli will also need to be wary of New Zealand's left-arm spinners Ajaz Patel and Rachin Ravindra, who have troubled him in the past.
Both Kohli and Rohit have not dominated a series in quite some time. Facing a shaky New Zealand team may be their golden opportunity ahead of the tour to Australia.
India's challenges are minor compared to New Zealand's issues in both batting and bowling departments.
New Zealand batsmen struggled against Sri Lankan spinners recently, leading to a 2-0 series loss. In this series, they must handle India's spin duo, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who are even more formidable on home soil.
Ashwin and Jadeja combined took 20 wickets against Bangladesh, and the pitch at Chinnaswamy Stadium is expected to assist spinners as the match progresses.
New Zealand will also face the brilliance of Jasprit Bumrah, who claimed 11 wickets in two Tests against Bangladesh.
Bumrah relies more on his exceptional skills than on pitch conditions, making him a constant threat to batsmen.
India will deliberate on the fifth bowler slot. If they retain the previous combination, Akash Deep will serve as the third pacer alongside Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
Akash has shown good control and often picks up crucial wickets, complementing Bumrah and Ashwin effectively.
The weather forecast suggests gloomy conditions, which could lead to delayed starts and shortened sessions.
This scenario might favor selecting a third pacer. However, considering New Zealand's struggles against spin, India might opt for either left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav or left-arm orthodox spinner Axar Patel, who can also contribute with the bat.
India's team comprises Rohit Sharma (captain), Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep.
New Zealand's squad includes Tom Latham (captain), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Mark Chapman, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Blundell (wicketkeeper), Ajaz Patel, Ben Sears, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, and William O'Rourke.