India won the toss and opted to bat first against New Zealand in the first Test in Kanpur starting Thursday, November 25. Stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane said that the pitch looked very good but generally it slows down here in Kanpur, so batting first was a better bet.
#TeamIndia Captain @ajinkyarahane88 wins the toss and elects to bat first in the 1st Test against New Zealand.
Live – https://t.co/9kh8Df6cv9 #INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/1T4NOXNED7
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2021
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said that he would have batted first as well but now that they are bowling, it’s important to take early wickets.
Team India handed a debut to middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer while going with a combination of three spinners and two pacers.
 A moment to cherish for @ShreyasIyer15 as he receives his #TeamIndia Test cap from Sunil Gavaskar – one of the best to have ever graced the game. #INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/kPwVKNOkfu
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2021
For New Zealand too, there was a debutant in Rachin Ravindra, who will serve as the fifth bowling option along with two spinners and as many pace bowlers.
Playing XIs
India: Shubman Gill, Mayank Agrawal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (C), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Ajaz Patel, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Will Somerville
