New Zealand vs India 1st Test Preview – Betting Tips, Latest Odds, Team News and Predictions – 20/02/2020
India will take on New Zealand in the first of two Test matches. It is India’s first Test action of the year and comes on the back of their recent ODI series defeat against the Black Caps.
India took the spoils in the T20I series before New Zealand hit back with a whitewash of their own in the ODIs. Attention now turns to the longer format and again the first match in Wellington will be vital with only two fixtures scheduled.
New Zealand will be keen to keep the momentum going after their one-day successes, while India will be looking to end the tour on a high note.
New Zealand vs India 1st Test – Match Preview
Where: Basin Reserve, Wellington
When: Thursday 20th February
Pitch conditions: The pitch in Wellington is known to favour batting. However, seamers tend to have some joy as the game progresses and overcast conditions may aid them further.
Weather conditions: There is a chance of rain during the five days but the conditions are mainly cloudy with temperatures steady around the 20c mark.
Start Time: 04:00 (IST), 22:30 (GMT previous day)
New Zealand vs India 1st Test – Latest Odds
India are made the slight favourites to get off to a winning start in Wellington. They can be backed at 2.20 (6/5) with Betway.
New Zealand are considered 2.50 (6/4) shots to get the win. The draw can be backed at 4.50 (7/2).
There are also a host of other interesting markets available with Betway. The method of the first dismissal, a player to get a century or backing one team to have a first-innings lead can all be backed.
New Zealand vs India 1st Test – Team News
The big news for New Zealand is the return of pace bowler Trent Boult for these two Test matches. He has recovered from the hand injury that kept him out of the white-ball contests.
Promising fast bowler Kyle Jamieson did well in the ODI series and has been rewarded with his first Test squad call-up. James Henry and Lockie Ferguson remained sidelined.
Mitchell Santner has been dropped from the squad after struggling recently. He has been replaced by spinner Ajaz Patel.
India, meanwhile, could have Ishant Sharma back in the mix after recovering quicker than expected from an ankle injury.
They are still without opener Rohit Sharma so one of Prithvi Shaw or Shubman Gill will likely open alongside Mayank Agarwal. In-form KL Rahul didn’t make the Test squad despite shining in limit-overs formats.
Rishabh Pant is also pushing for a return but is likely to miss out to Wriddhiman Saha in the battle for the gloves.
New Zealand vs India – Test Squads
| New Zealand |
India |
| Kane Williamson (captain) |
Virat Kohli (captain) |
| Tom Blundell |
Mayank Agarwal |
| Trent Boult |
Ravichandran Ashwin |
| Colin de Grandhomme |
Jasprit Bumrah |
| Kyle Jamieson |
Ravindra Jadeja |
| Tom Latham |
Mohammed Shami |
| Daryl Mitchell |
Rishabh Pant |
| Henry Nicholls |
Cheteshwar Pujara |
| Ajaz Patel |
Ajinkya Rahane |
| Tim Southee |
Wriddhiman Saha |
| Ross Taylor |
Navdeep Saini |
| Neil Wagner |
Ishant Sharma |
| BJ Watling |
Prithvi Shaw |
|
Shubman Gill |
|
Hanuma Vihari |
|
Umesh Yadav |
New Zealand vs India 1st Test – Betting Tips and Prediction
This looks a well-matched contest, especially on the back of the ODI series. India have been forced into a few changes due to injury and that could prove decisive as New Zealand revel in their home conditions.
It could be worth sticking with the hosts for this one now they have some momentum behind them.
New Zealand to lay a solid foundation
Given India’s recent changes at the top of the order, it could be worth backing New Zealand to have the highest opening partnership in this game.
India are the favourites in this market at 1.70 (7/10) but taking them on with New Zealand’s price of 2.10 (11/10) with Betway is a good bet.
No Rohit Sharma, no KL Rahul, no Shikhar Dhawan. It means India could again give a chance to Prithvi Shaw or Shubman Gill. Their inexperience alongside Mayank Agarwal, who has also been struggling for form, means they could be vulnerable.
The New Zealand duo of Tom Latham and Tom Blundell could offer the better chance of the win in this one.
Kohli to be India’s star man once again
If India are to lose an early wicket or two then Virat Kohli looks a good bet to be their first innings top run-scorer.
He is available at 3.25 (9/4) with bet365 to take that honour and it’s a price that looks slightly too generous.
Kohli has been struggling for form a little in the white-ball game but can bounce back to his best now India return to Test cricket.
Best Bet: New Zealand to have highest opening partnership at 2.10 (11/10) with Betway.
February 20, 2020 
22:30 
