1. Prithvi Shaw
The young man did not have a great time in the ODI series. But the management might prefer a genuine opener at that slot than pushing someone like Hanuma Vihari as a makeshift option.
2. Mayank Agarwal
Mayank too is coming off a lean ODI series and he would like to compensate for it with a substantial outing here.
3. Cheteshwar Pujara
Pujara has showed excellent touch in the side game and he would like to build on that in the Test series as he had done against Australia a year ago.
4. Virat Kohli
Overall, Kohli did not have a satisfactory white ball leg in New Zealand both as a batsman and as a captain. He would be eager to get a move on the Test series and begin the charge at Wellington.
5. Ajinkya Rahane
Rahane too was in some touch in the side game and he has a big job to do as he will be the fulcrum of the middle-order and has been in good for since the tour of West Indies last year.
6. Hanuma Vihari
Vihari made a hundred in the warm-up match and he would like to build on it in the Test series. He would come handy as a part-time off-spinner also.
7. Ravindra Jadeja / R Ashwin
Jadeja might hold a slight edge over Ashwin as he has generally been considered as the No 1 spinner in overseas conditions where only one frontline spinner is used. And Jadeja has also improved a lot as a batsman.
8. Wriddhiman Saha
Saha will have massive role behind the stumps in NZ where the ball might wobble in windy conditions and he would also like to add few good runs below the order.
9. Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma has cleared fitness test at NCA and Kohli has hinted at having him in the playing XI. But if the management does not feel like rushing him then they have the option of bringing in Umesh Yadav.
10. Mohammed Shami
Shami would be eager to sustain his outstanding form that he displayed in the Test series against South Africa and Bangladesh at home.
11. Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah went through a rare wicketless series in the three-match one-dayers against New Zealand and he would like to make amends for it with a big Test series.