New Zealand Face Massive Setback Before IND vs NZ 1st Test In Bengaluru, Forced To Re-Shuffle Squad

IND vs NZ 1st Test: Rohit Sharma and co. are currently gearing up to take on New Zealand in a three-match Test series. This will be India's last home Test series before 2024 ends. Prior to this, India had convincingly defeated Bangladesh 2-0 in a two-match Test series. India are comfortably placed on the top of the World Test Championship points table and are firm favourites to play the WTC 2025 finals next year. India in many ways will see the New Zealand series as a dress rehearsal for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Injury Issues Plague New Zealand

New Zealand are currently in a very tricky spot and are having troubles in putting up a convincing show in subcontinent conditions. The Kiwis has toured Sri Lanka in September this year to play a two-match Test series and lost both the contests. The outcome of this Test series heavily dented New Zealand's hopes of playing the WTC 2025 finals.

The Kiwis have an herculean task ahead of them to try and win a series against India in India. Much to their misfortunes, they will also miss the services of their former Test skipper Kane Williamson who will be unavailable for the first Test match of the series. Just a day prior to the series opener, New Zealand have lost Ben Sears to an injury. During New Zealand's training session, Sears experienced pain in his left knee and the scans revealed that he had a a tear to his meniscus.

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With rain expecting to play spoilsport in the Bengaluru Test, New Zealand will already feel that they are on the backfoot as a draw wouldn't help their chance of playing the WTC 2025 final. The Kiwis have called up fellow quick Jacob Duffy, who has yet to be capped at Test level.

IND vs NZ: Schedule Of The Test Series

• First Test: 16-20 October, Bengaluru
• Second Test: 24-28 October, Pune
• Third Test: 1-5 November, Mumbai

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New Zealand In A Spot Of Bother

New Zealand's recent series loss against Sri Lanka has put them in a spot of bother and they are left with no other option rather than winning all their remaining six matches. New Zealand, after playing three matches in India will then host England for three more Test matches.