IND vs NZ, 1st Test, Predicted XI: Will Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav play in Bengaluru?

India vs New Zealand: The Indian team is set to take on Tom Latham's New Zealand in the first Test of the 3-match series. With rain set to impact the game, what will be the Indian team's playing combination?

In Short

• India take on New Zealand in Bengaluru
• Rain is expected to impact the Test match
• Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel did not get a game in the Bangladesh series

India are set to take on New Zealand in the first Test match of the series in Bengaluru. The Indian team is coming off a strong show against Bangladesh earlier this month and will look to extend their terrific run at home. The Indian team played three pacers - Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep in the 2-Tests against Bangladesh and it could be possible that they stick to the same combination.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir was asked about the possible playing combination for the Bengaluru Test match. The India head coach remained coy about the team's combination and said that the side had a brilliant talent pool to choose from.

"It (combination) depends on conditions, wicket and opposition. The best part about this dressing room is that we've got so many high-quality players and we can select any of them. We know they can do the job for us. That is what is called depth. We'll have a look at the wicket tomorrow. We'll have a chat and see what is the best combination to do the job at the Chinnaswamy Stadium," Gambhir told reporters a day ahead of the Test match.

IND vs NZ: When and where to watch

Conditions are certainly going to be important in the first Test. Due to the torrential rainfall in Chennai, it is expected that the weather in Bengaluru is going to be affected as well. Rain is predicted during match hours during all 5 days of the Test, which will mean that India might not opt for a spin-heavy bowling attack.

Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja played both Test matches against Bangladesh, while Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav warmed the bench. Considering that R Ashwin is hunting Nathan Lyon's wicket tally in Test cricket, it is unlikely that the Indian team will drop the player. This leaves us with Ravindra Jadeja - one of India's greatest spin-bowling all-rounders of all time.

It is possible that India might rest Jadeja and give Axar Patel a game, to put miles under his legs ahead of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. However, playing Kuldeep Yadav might still be a far-fetched idea at the moment. One can expect India to play the same fast-bowling combination against New Zealand.

India Predicted Playing XI

Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel/Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep