IND vs NZ 2021: Ian Smith Disappointed With India Resting Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma For First Test

Former New Zealand wicket-keeper batter Ian Smith raised questions on Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma missing the first Test against New Zealand.

After sweeping the Black Caps 3-0 in the T20I series, India will look ahead towards the two-match Test series against Kane Williamson & co.

It intrigues me that India are resting players for Test cricket: Ian Smith

Keeping the workload of players in mind, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has rested some senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and frontline bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.

Ajinkya Rahane will lead India in the first Test against New Zealand, with Cheteshwar Pujara named his deputy.

Smith wasn’t happy with the Indian board benching Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the first Test.

“India have left out Kohli and Sharma, it intrigues me actually that we’re resting people in Test cricket these days, that disappoints me greatly,” Smith told Sen.com.au.

New Zealand need  to have Neil Wagner: Ian Smith

New Zealand will be playing their first Test match since they won the World Test Championship final against India in June.

This will also mark the start for the Black Caps for the World Test Championship 2021-23 cycle. Smith believes that left-arm pacer Neil Wagner will be crucial for the visitors.

“You’ve got to have (Neil) Wagner so when you get in trouble, he can try and bowl you out of it with his stamina,” Smith said.

India also lost to New Zealand in the Group 2 of the Super 12 stage in the T20 World Cup. New Zealand lost the final to trans-Tasman rivals Australia before being white-washed by the Indians.

The first Test between India and New Zealand will start on November 25 (Thursday) at the Greenpark Stadium in Kanpur.

This will be the first Test series for Rahul Dravid, the Indian team’s newly appointed head coach, who will also get to test the players and get the right combination for the future.

Also Read: IND vs NZ 2021: Martin Guptill Leapfrogs Virat Kohli To Become The Highest Run-Scorer In T20Is