IND vs NZ: Shreyas Iyer set to make Test debut in Kanpur

India skipper Ajinkya Rahane has confirmed that Shreyas Iyer will make his Test debut in the first Test against New Zealand. Iyer was preferred for the Test series, ahead of Hanuma Vihari. Notably, India will be without the services of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul for the match. Earlier, Mayank Agarwal was set to play in the middle order but with Rahul out due to injury, Mayank will have to play as an opener, with Iyer batting in the middle order.

“Shreyas Iyer is going to make his debut,” said Rahane

Rahane also shed light on his extended lean patch. The skipper said that a player’s form cannot be judged by how many hundreds he has scored, adding that sometimes 50s and 60s can also do the job for the team. “I am not concerned about my form, it’s not necessary to make a hundred – I always think about the team, even 50 or 60 is important for the team cause”.

The pitch in Kanpur is expected to aid the spinners. Of late, India batters have struggled on the turning tracks. Speaking on the challenges of playing on such wickets, Rahane said, “When you play on spin-friendly wickets it’s a challenge even for Indian batsmen so we will take it as a challenge and try to win every match we play.”