The BCCI and the UPCA are also preparing T-shirts with “500th Test” written on it for the under-privileged children, who will be present in the stadium on all Test match days.
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Reflecting on the same, BCCI President, Anurag Thakur said: “I have always believed that the heart of the game lies with its fans and what better way to celebrate the historic moment of 500th Test match by giving the fans a chance to vote for their “Dream Team”. In 2012, India slipped to a 1-2 series defeat against England, thanks largely to the visiting team’s spinners Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar, and some help from Kevin Pietersen. Since the wicket keeps changing, it is important how we assess and analyse the conditions, how it plays on the first day and what situation we are in. Definitely, their bowlers are good, they’ve been playing together for some time. That is our strength, and we will have to play to our strengths. As a batting unit, we think of batting over by over and session by session. The last time they played as many Tests was in 1979-’80.
“Virat Kohli is in a very enviable position where he has got a very balanced side, batting department, fast bowling department and spin department, so it is going to be a really challenging task for New Zealand”, former batsman VVS Laxman told NDTV.
Over the past 84 years since India first entered the Test Cricket arena, being the sixth team to do so, we have we witnessed a lot of ups and downs.
“India can do consistently well in Test cricket”. However, Rahane brushed it aside and said, “It is important to start from the scratch”. There are One-Day Internationals as well, but the focus is on the Test series.
Thirteen Test matches in one home season is not a small number, by any means. We all are ready for that.
New Zealand have not won a Test series in India and last toured the country in 2012 when the Indian side had a completely different look.
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We never have it in our mind that the match should end in three or four days. The duration doesn’t matter. At the very least, the pressure on Dhoni will rise, especially if India lose the few limited-over matches they play this season. If we win, it will be the biggest celebration.
