India vs New Zealand Tests: Murali Vijay, Kane Williamson Among Top 5 Players To Watch Out For

Virat Kohli-led India will face spirited New Zealand in a three-match Test series starting in Kanpur's Green Park on September 22.

India, who haven't lost a Test series since the 2015 World Cup, will face a tough challenge from new and improved New Zealand, who as Brendon McCullum said, are having a time of their lives.

Here is a look at the five players who can make an impact in the series:

1. Murali Vijay

Since his comeback three years ago, Vijay has been India's most consistent performer barring the series against New Zealand in 2014. From his 146 against England at Trent Bridge to a magnificent 144 versus the Australians on a green Brisbane track, Vijay has silently become India's mainstay at the top of the order.

Even in Sri Lanka last year, where India won a Test series after a gap of 23 years, his 82 in the second Test in Colombo proved crucial, especially as India needed to win to the match to keep their hopes alive, after being one-nil down in the series.

After missing most of the action against the West Indies due to injury and management's decision to persist with Shikhar Dhawan, Vijay will look to perform from ball one against the Kiwis and give the likes of Trent Boult, Tim Southee a run for their money.

2. Kane Williamson

'Bloody Genius' - a compliment that was used by many for his captaincy during the 2016 World T20. Williamson, who is expected to shatter every New Zealand's batting record, has it in him to be the country's greatest captain of all time too.

Williamson finished as team's second highest run-getter in New Zealand's recent tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa and was superb with his captaincy, especially in Zimbabwe, where the pitches were not conducive to bowlers.

Williamson, who has a century and two fifty-plus scores to his name in India, is currently the most complete batsman in the Kiwi line-up and one would expect him to make a big difference on rank turners come September 22.

3. Ravindra Jadeja

An important cog in Virat Kohli's five-bowler strategy, Ravindra Jadeja is the closest to an all-rounder in the India's Test setup. Not only his job would be to score runs at a fast pace, but also pick wickets while playing second fiddle to Ravichandran Ashwin.

This is the second time Jadeja will face New Zealand in Tests. His numbers in sub-continent have been extraordinary with the pitches offering a lot of turn. Can India continue their home advantage with Jadeja on their side?

4. KL Rahul

Besides his impressive form in shorter formats, KL Rahul has also produced some spectacular performances in Test cricket. With an injured Murali Vijay sidelined in the recent Jamaica Test, Rahul hit a timely 158 to help India get past 500 in first innings. He followed it up with a steady half-century in St Lucia.

Just three weeks back, Rahul became the third Indian after Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma to score a hundred in all three formats.

With Dhawan's problems against quality attacks on the rise, Rahul will most likely be India's first-choice opener for the New Zealand series.

Sodhi's exploits with the white ball have brought him back in New Zealand's Test side.

© AFP

5. Ish Sodhi

Despite an average start to his Test career, there was something about leg-spinner Sodhi that kept him in the frame.

In Brendon McCullum's farewell ODI series against Australia and the World T20, Sodhi showed signs of improvement as he spun the ball considerably, making it difficult for batsmen to hit him.

His exploits with the white ball have brought him back in the spotlight and even coach Mike Hesson has marked him one for the future.

The India series will be a test of Sodhi's character and if he succeeds, then the Kiwis will have their spin problems sorted out across all formats.