India vs New Zealand Tests: Five Player vs Player Battles to Watch Out For

New Zealand will begin their three-match Test series against India when they take on the hosts in the first cricket Test starting from September 22 in Kanpur's Green Park.

World No. 2 India are back from a 2-0 win over West Indies in a four-Test series in the Caribbean. However, despite playing at home, India will face a stiffer test against the Kiwis, who are No. 7 in the current ICC rankings.

Here is a look at five key player battles which could possibly decide the fate of the upcoming Test series:

Ravichandran Ashwin vs Kane Williamson

Ravichandran Ashwin will be a key component in the Indian team, with tracks likely to heavily favour spinners. Ashwin shone with both bat and ball in the recent Test series versus the West Indies, and is one of the most in-form players in the Indian side.

On the other hand, Kane Williamson is one of the most reliable batsmen in world cricket today. The New Zealand skipper loves playing against India, and has scored two centuries against the latter. He had scored 131 runs in his debut Test match, which came against India at Ahmedabad in 2010.

If Ashwin manages to keep a check on Williamson, India will fancy their chances of getting the better of the Kiwis.

Ravindra Jadeja vs Ross Taylor

Ravindra Jadeja has the ability to turn the ball with some pace, and will use it against Ross Taylor.

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Ross Taylor has scored three Test centuries against India in his international career, one of them coming in the Wellington Test in 2009, a knock that denied India victory and helped New Zealand to a draw.

Taylor will be key to how the visitors fare in this series, and India will be determined to make sure he doesn't prove to be a thorn. He could, however, be troubled by Ravindra Jadeja, who has always been a major threat to opponents on Indian tracks.

Jadeja's ability to turn the ball with some considerable pace is something Virat Kohli would like to put to good use throughout the series, and Taylor will be one of the many batsmen Jadeja will have in his sights on.

Ish Sodhi vs Virat Kohli

Ish Sodhi (left) can be dangerous on turning tracks, and Virat Kohli will be wary of him.

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On Indian wickets, New Zealand will be heavily dependent on leg-spinner Ish Sodhi. The Ludhiana-born New Zealand player will hope to exploit favourable tracks and torment the strong Indian batting line-up.

Virat Kohli, on the other hand, has been in imperious form this year, and even scored his first ever double-century in Tests against the West Indies in July this year. However, the Indian Test skipper will be aware of the challenge he will face against the young Sodhi, who could prove to be highly dangerous on turning tracks.

This will be an interesting match-up between two players who are in contrasting stages of their career. Sodhi will be eager to put on an impressive showing in this series, and the prospect of dismissing one of the best batsmen of this generation will certainly be a major motivation.

Trent Boult vs Murali Vijay

Trent Boult's ability to reverse-swing will be something Murali Vijay will be wary of.

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Murali Vijay is patient customer on the pitch. India will rely on his ability to steady the ship against a strong New Zealand bowling line-up, and keep the score ticking.

On the other hand, Trent Boult's ability to reverse-swing will be something the Indian batsmen will be wary of. Vijay's calm approach against a blistering Boult will make for a riveting watch.

Mohammed Shami vs Bradley-John Watling

Mohammad Shami's ability to reverse-swing will be key against  batsmen like BJ Watling.

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Bradley-John Watling has been in good form this year in Tests, and will hope to build on the momentum against India in the upcoming series. On Indian tracks, he will be a key man for the Kiwis.

However, while spinners like Ashwin and Jadeja will make Watling's job tough, his duel with Mohammed Shami will be interesting to watch out for.

Shami's ability to reverse-swing will be key against dogged batsmen like Watling. If the pacer can get the best out of the pitch, Shami could prove to be a lethal weapon for India.