Both New Zealand and India are expected to make at least one change each in their playing XI for the second and series-deciding Test match at the Hagle Oval Stadium on Saturday.
New Zealand outplayed India in all departments in the 1st match in Wellington to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series and will be looking to replicate their performance and seal the deal in Christchurch.
They are expected to bring back left-arm fast bowler Neil Wagner in their playing XI which means Kyle Jamieson, who picked 4 wickets in the previous game and contributed with 44 crucial runs down the order in their only innings, will be warming the bench in all likelihood.
India on the other hand, was dealt with a big blow on Friday after reports of Ishant Sharma's injury emerged. Ishant's ankle injury as resurfaced and remains a doubtful starter for the crucial game.
His absence could see the return of Umesh Yadav in the Indian playing XI ahead of Navdeep Saini due to the former's experience and form in red-ball cricket.
Ravindra Jadeja could also be drafted in the team with Ravichandran Ashwin likely to miss out. But as is the norm with the Indian team, the playing XI will only be revealed at the toss on Saturday morning.
Dream X1 predictions:
Captain: Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson is the in-form batsman and the home team captain with his team already ahead in the series. He will be going for the kill in the next game as well so it makes sense to chose him over Virat Kohli as your team captain. Kohli has been woefully out of form on this tour which is why Williamson would be a better option for you.
Vica-Captain: Ajinkya Rahane
India's Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane was the only batsman along with Mayank Agarwal, who showed some form with the bat for the visitors. Rahane top-scored in India's 1st innings with 46 runs while in the 2nd he made 29 so picking him as your vice-captain would be a safe bet.
Batsmen
Tom Blundell and Mayank Agarwal were the two openers who were among the runs from either side in the last game with the Indian even managing a half-century in their 2nd innings. So it should be a no-brainer to pick these two as your openers, followed by Williamson and Rahane.
Virat Kohli's string of poor scores though, should not discourage you from picking him in your Dream XI team as the Indian captain is due for a big score. Kohli has delivered every time the chips were down and will be looking to do the same with his team facing a series defeat in Christchurch.
Wicketkeeper & All-rounders
Rishabh Pant is a risky choice but it can pay off handsomely as the young wicketkeeper has the tendency to score big hundreds at a good strike rate in overseas conditions as we have seen in the past in Australia and England. He is still a work in progress behind the stumps but like Kohli, Pant is also a player who has hit back at critics with his performance on the field in his short international career so far.
Colin de Grandhomme is the obvious choice for the all-rounder's slot being the in-form player from either side. He scored 43 runs and picked up a wicket in the last game which is why he becomes an automatic choice. Ravindra Jadeja is expected to play the next match ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin so he is the perfect choice for your 2nd all-rounder and lone spinner in the team.
Bowlers
Trent Boult and Tim Southee are the top picks in this category thanks to their outstanding performances in the last game. Southee grabbed 9 wickets in the match including a 5-wicket haul in India's 2nd innings while Boult finished with 5 scalps. The two should once again be among the wickets in the next Test where the pitch will assist the fast bowlers in the first three days.
The third pacer's slot can be filled by Neil Wagner, who will definitely return to the New Zealand XI. Wagner has been the second most-prolific Kiwi pacer in the World Test Championship behind Southee so far and simply cannot be left out of the Dream 11 side in this case.
Dream 11 Team: Tom Blundell, Mayank Agarwal, Kane Williamson (c), Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane (VC), Colin de Grandhomme, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner.
India vs New Zealand - Test squads
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), R. Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Navdeep Saini, Shubhman Gill.New Zealand: Tom Latham, Tom Blundell, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling(w), Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell.
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