Ganesh Kendale
New Delhi: New Zealand will be without the services of their leading run-getter Kane Williamson in the series opener vs India as the 34-year-old is yet to recover from a groin strain. The former skipper, who injured himself during the second Test vs Sri Lanka in Galle, is undergoing rehab at home and yet to join the side for the three-Test series.
The experienced campaigner’s absence is a major setback for the Kiwis who get their India tour underway in Bengaluru.Williamson has been in good touch this year and has already amassed 618 runs in 12 innings, which include three hundreds and two half-centuries. New Zealand will certainly miss his experience and form in the opening game.
The leadership
Williamson’s performance in India has not been that great as he averages 33.53. In the 15 innings he has played, the right-hander has managed to score just one century and three half-centuries. Yes, the runs are not there but absence of Williamson the leader will be dearly felt by the Black Caps.
Tom Latham has taken over as the captain of the New Zealand cricket team following and this change in leadership comes just before the Test series against India. Latham will be stepping into his new role without the guidance of Kane Williamson, who certainly knows more than a thing or two about playing cricket in this part of the world.
Many moons ago, back in 2010, Williamson made his Test debut vs India in Ahmedabad and the 20-year-old scored a century against a formidable Indian attack featuring the likes of Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh.
Chapman to debut?
Williamson’s absence will be felt but it presents an opportunity for Mark Chapman to potentially make his Test debut. Chapman has previously played 78 white-ball matches for New Zealand and has tasted success while touring India with the New Zealand A side. Chapman has played six first-class matches for New Zealand A and scored a century against India A in 2020. His last appearance for New Zealand A was in 2022, where he scored 92 and 45 in a first-class match in Bengaluru.
The mouth-watering series gets underway in Bengaluru with the second Test in Pune, and the final Test scheduled to take place in Mumbai. India is focused on winning their home series against New Zealand to strengthen their position in the World Test Championship (WTC) before their tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
New Zealand are yet to win a Test series in India and they would like to put up a solid show against Rohit Sharma and Co.
