Virat Kohli will lead the Indian cricket team against New Zealand in the three-Test series (All images courtesy BCCI/Twitter and PTI)

Indian cricketers toiled hard under the sun in Kanpur ahead of the first Test which starts on Thursday

Virat Kohli will once be the backbone of the Indian batting line-up

Shikhar Dhawan is expected to open the innings for India

Kohli spent a lot of time practising in the nets

India coach Anil Kumble spent quite some time out there to check out the pitch

The Green Park track is expected to turn from the first day itself

However, rain has also been predicted for the upcoming first Test

This will be India's first Test match since their 2-0 victory in the Caribbean against the West Indies

Ravichandran Ashwin is likely to play a big part in the series

This will be the first home series under new head coach Kumble

What these two men plan for the upcoming series could well decide the result