India start as overwhelming favorites when they host New Zealand for a two-test series, starting in Hyderabad on Thursday.
India are ranked fifth on the ICC Test Rankings but are always much stronger at home and New Zealand have had little to celebrate in recent years, struggling at the 9th spot.
India have not lost a home test series since 2004, a run that stretches to nine wins and four drawn series.
On flat wickets and under hot weather conditions, their opponents have toiled with little success.
Yet when the series gets underway on Thursday, it will earmark the beginning of a new era as they take the field following the retirements of powerhouses Rahul Dravid and, as recently as last week, VVS Laxman.
The duo had been the backbone of a strong batting line up but will no longer be seen in national colors. Subramaniam Badrinath has been named in the 15-man squad and has appeared in two test matches.
The squad also excludes Harbhajan Singh after the off-spinner’s continued barren run over the past year. Ishant Sharma is back after a long layoff while Suresh Raina returns after not being considered for the Australian tour.
New Zealand would do themselves a huge favor by not expecting too much from the series. They were comprehensively outplayed on their tour to the West Indies.
In addition, the Kiwis have not won an away series in a decade, excluding competitions against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.
Their situation is made worse by Daniel Vettori’s absence due to injury.
In such a scenario, the bulk of the responsibility lies on the shoulder of Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum as the two will open the innings after several attempts to try another opener have failed.
Perhaps the high number of draws in India would give New Zealand some hope of respectability in what is otherwise expected to be a one-sided series.
The match will be played in Hyderabad, starting at 09.30am.