Kolkata, Sep 29: In the middle of a 12-match unbeaten streak at home, India's marauding cricket team will be aiming to reclaim the No.1 spot in ICC rankings when it takes on an unsettled New Zealand in the second Test starting here on Friday (Sep 30).
Ind-NZ series schedule; Photo Gallery
With 10 wins and two draws in their last 12 matches, India have been unstoppable on home turf in a journey that began with the 1-2 series loss against England in December 2012.
They have begun a packed 13-Test home calendar by inflicting a massive 197-run defeat over the visiting Black Caps in their 500th Test.
Having entered the three-match series one lower than Pakistan, India will also look to reclaim the number one rankings in the ICC Test rankings with a victory at the Eden Test.
India did not put a foot wrong at the Green Park stadium even as Kohli's bold move to go with a four-strong bowling attack surprised many.
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The two Indian spinners -- Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja -- got fine support from the deteriorating Green Park wicket and they both accounted for 16 wickets.
The spin-mantra to get success at home has not changed even with the new set up under coach Anil Kumble and Kohli.
It will be no different at the Eden track, though the team think tank seems to be wary of the relaid wicket which will be used for the first time.
That means Kohli cannot afford to go with four bowlers on the Eden track which promises to offer spin only after a bit of wear and tear and leg-spinner Amit Mishra would certainly fancy his chances.
Comeback man Gautam Gambhir excited, nervous
The 30-year-old off-spinner, playing just his 37th match, finished with match figures of 10-225, his fifth 10-wicket haul and joined the 200-club of Test wickets.
Ashwin, in fact stayed away from bowling at the nets and was seen chatting with the coach before trying out his hand briefly at batting.
Yadav is also a handy batsman and has a first-class double-ton to his name. He also has a record-breaking eighth-wicket stand of 392, scored in partnership with Amit
Mishra in 2012.
India have also recalled veteran left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir who last played a Test way back in August in August 2014, during the tour to England but it remains to be seen whether the 34-year-old will make his way into the XI at his IPL home-ground.
Santner was the biggest positive for New Zealand in the Kanpur Test and impressed with both bat and ball.
He scored 32 and 71 apart from his bowling figures of 3/94 and 2/79 to become the first New Zealander after Daniel Vettori to score more than 100 and take at least five wickets.
Apart from Santner, middle-order batsman Luke Ronchi, who scored a defiant 80 in the second innings, is also a key player for the Black Caps.
Teams (from):
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (C), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Jeetan Patel, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner and BJ Watling.
India: Virat Kohli (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami,
Bhuvneshvar Kumar, Amit Mishra, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav and Jayant Yadav.
Match to start at 9.30am IST.
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PTI