Virat Kohli Drops Names About Playing XI for 1st Test Against New Zealand

India skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday dropped enough clues to indicate that senior pacer Ishant Sharma and young talent Prithvi Shaw will be in the playing XI for the first Test against New Zealand that commences on February 21.

On the off chance that India's net session on Wednesday is thought about, Wriddhiman Saha is beginning as the wicket-keeper ahead of Rishabh Pant for the series opener beginning on Friday.

Hanuma Vihari, the team's designated No 6 batsman for away Tests, will be the fifth bowling option with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant being the three specialist pacers.

Ravichandran Ashwin is in the mix for the solitary specialist spinner's spot however Ravindra Jadeja's overall abilities can't be disregarded either.

Ishant, who was out for three weeks with ankle injury sustained during the Ranji Trophy game, bowled maximum capacity at the nets and even earned appreciation for troubling batsmen with his pace and bounce.

"He (Ishant) looked pretty normal and pretty similar to what he was bowling before the ankle injury. He is hitting good areas again and he has played (Test cricket) in New Zealand couple of times, so his experience will be useful to us. It was really good to see him bowling with pace and in good areas," Kohli said during a media interaction.

The captain additionally said that the team wouldn't like to change Shaw's natural stroke-play which was an adequate clue that Shubman Gill will have to warm the benches for now.

"Prithvi is a capable player and he has his own game and we need him to follow his impulses and play the manner in which he does. See, these folks have no things and are not edgy to act in any way," Kohli said.