NZ vs IND Dream11 Prediction: New Zealand vs India Best Dream 11 Team for first Test match

NZ vs IND Dream11 Prediction: The riveting Test series will commence from tomorrow at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.

The first Test of the ongoing India’s tour of New Zealand will begin from tomorrow at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. While the T20I and ODI series were one-sided, expect both the teams to contest in a riveting two-match Test series.

Despite getting whitewashed by Australia in their last Test series, New Zealand would be banking on their strengths especially while playing against an Asian country at home. A deadly spell by one of their fast bowlers first up has it in it to disrupt the opposition.

India, who are currently the table-toppers of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship, would be wanting to carry forward their unbeaten streak in the tournament. Playing in challenging conditions for the first time, the visitors need to put their best foot forward especially in opening batsman Rohit Sharma’s absence.

Another reason why New Zealand will start as slight favourites is India’s Test record in Wellington. It is worth mentioning that the No. 1 Test team had last won a Test match in Wellington in 1968.

Pitch Conditions and Toss Prediction

The surface at Basin Reserve will stay true to its archetype nature of helping the fast bowler initially and then improving as time passes. If batsmen stand tall on their potential against the opposition bowlers and wind, runs will start to flow.

Having said that, whosoever wins the toss is likely to field first to take advantage of the green surface in store for fast bowlers.

Probable Playing XI

New Zealand

1) Tom Latham 2) Tom Blundell 3) Kane Williamson (c) 4) Ross Taylor 5) Henry Nicholls 6) Colin de Grandhomme 7) BJ Watling (wk) 8) Daryl Mitchell / Ajaz Patel 9) Kyle Jamieson 10) Tim Southee 11) Trent Boult

India

1) Prithvi Shaw 2) Mayank Agarwal 3) Cheteshwar Pujara 4) Virat Kohli (c) 5) Ajinkya Rahane 6) Hanuma Vihari 7) Rishabh Pant 8) Ravindra Jadeja / Ravichandran Ashwin 9) Ishant Sharma / Umesh Yadav 10) Mohammed Shami 11) Jasprit Bumrah

5 Must Have Picks

Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Virat Kohli, Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah.

NZ vs IND Dream11 Prediction

NZ vs IND Dream11 Wicket-keepers

Considering all that he has done in this format in the recent years, New Zealand wicket-keeper batsman BJ Watling becomes an automatic pick in your Dream11 fantasy team.

Since the start of 2016, Watling has scored 1,683 runs in 32 Test matches at an average of 41.04 which is the highest among wicket-keeper batsmen in the given period.

NZ vs IND Dream11 Batsmen

Having picked New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and veteran batsman Ross Taylor in my fantasy team for this match, I have followed a safe approach by picking the two most reliable Kiwi batsmen.

What primarily worked for both these batsmen is their record at the Basin Reserve. Among active cricketers, Taylor (1,226 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 64.52) and Williamson (1,048 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 65.50) are the highest Test run-scorers at the venue.

Much like Watling, India captain Virat Kohli is another name which should automatically feature in your fantasy teams. Going by Williamson’s words, you wouldn’t want to commit the blunder of leaving out the best all-format batsman.

Picking one between India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane was a tough call for me. I majorly relied upon both the batsmen’s Test record in New Zealand before opting to pick Rahane over Pujara. It is worth mentioning that Rahane had registered his maiden Test century in Wellington in 2014.

NZ vs IND Dream11 All-rounders

New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme is currently the No. 8 all-rounder in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Rankings for all-rounders. The 33-year old player has it in him to become your budget buy for this match for his all-round skills generally see him contributing in some way or the other.

In the same list, India all-rounders in Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin are the No. 3 and 4 respectively. I have picked Jadeja (8.5 credits) for now but who will India pick will only be known at the toss. Therefore, be alert in the morning and make the change, if needed.

I have created the team in such a way that you will have an extra 0.5 credit to include Ashwin who is priced at 9 credits according to Dream11.

NZ vs IND Dream11 Bowlers

Among the bowlers, New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult enjoys the same status as that of Taylor and Williamson in the batting department at the Basin Reserve. Having picked 40 wickets in nine Tests at an average of 27.90 and a strike rate of 51.5, Boult is the highest wicket-taker at the venue among active players.

Kyle Jamieson impressed one and all in his first two ODIs that he played earlier this month. With height as his biggest strength, Jamieson is in likeliness of troubling the Indian batsmen tomorrow.

India pacer Ishant Sharma might have cleared his fitness Test on the eve of the match but a final call on him will be taken in the morning.

As a result, I have decided to proceed with the tried and tested names of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. While Bumrah (48 wickets in nine Tests at an average of 17.50 and a strike rate of 12.4) is the second-highest wicket-taker in overseas Test matches in the last two years, Shami (41 wickets in 11 Tests at an average of 29.29 and a strike rate of 52.7) is not too far behind with his position at No. 4.

NZ vs IND Dream11 Prediction

1) BJ Watling (wk) 2) Kane Williamson 3) Ross Taylor 4) Virat Kohli (c) 5) Ajinkya Rahane 6) Colin de Grandhomme 7) Ravindra Jadeja / Ravichandran Ashwin 8) Trent Boult (vc) 9) Kyle Jamieson 10) Jasprit Bumrah 11) Mohammed Shami

I have selected Boult as the vice-captain for this match. I would suggest you to do the same only if New Zealand are batting first. In the case of India batting first, you should select Williamson as your vice-captain.

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Dream 11 Disclaimer

All our selections are based on in-depth and astute analysis of the players partaking in the match, pitch report and a perusal of other reasoning. Please incorporate a slew of factors while crafting your own side with this article serving as a guide to the match and players.