IND vs NZ | Hope Ajinkya Rahane take the team forward and score runs, says Harbhajan Singh

After whitewashing New Zealand in the T20I series 3-0, India will lock horns with the Black Caps in a two-match Test series. The Test series will begin on Thursday, November 25 in Kanpur, and Ajinkya Rahane will lead the squad in the first match and Cheteshwar Pujara will be his deputy. India's full-time skipper Virat Kohli will join the squad for the second Test in Mumbai. Rahane had a successful time leading the national side in red-ball cricket as he became the only second Indian captain to win a Test series in Australia after their historic victory in the Brisbane Test. However, the batting form of Ajinkya Rahane remains a concern for Team India while heading to the first Test match which begins on Thursday.

"There's no Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma has opted to rest himself. Then there's Ajinkya Rahane; we were wondering whether he'll be in the team or not. But he has been handed the captaincy (for the first Test). His last 11 matches haven't gone too well as he is averaging just 19 (19.58). He is a brilliant cricketer but his performance hasn't quite backed him. But it's also good to see the thinking of Rohit, Virat, and Rahul Dravid as they believe that Rahane should be in the team," Harbhajan told Sportskeeda.

The veteran spinner further added that it is important for the Indian team to start well as they are playing at home after a long time.

"The England Tour went very well for the team and then the final Test match did not happen. After that, a lot of T20 cricket was played, be it IPL or the T20 World Cup. So, this is kind of a new season because this is the first Test match we are playing at home (after a long time).