`Crucial` first Test against Kiwis will set tone for long home season: Rahane

Kanpur [India], Sept.20 (ANI): India's vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane believes that the first Test of the three-match series against New Zealand will be very crucial as it will set the tone for a gruelling long home season of 13 Tests, beginning on Thursday at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. India played their last Test in Kanpur against Sri Lanka in 2009, where spinners accounted for 20 of the 30 wickets to fall, with the hosts winning the match under four days. The 28-year-old said that he is hoping to see the similar kind of result when India will play their 500th Test match. "We know we are playing 13 Test matches here [in India].The first Test will be crucial. This game will set the tone for the season. Yes, we are playing ODIs as well but focussing on Tests first. The first Test of every series is crucial. You get that momentum from that. And I feel we all are ready for that," Rahane was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. While expecting the Kanpur wickets to assist the Indian spinners, Rahane called on his side to play to their strength and avoid being dominated by their oppositions. "Hopefully it [the Green Park pitch] will turn. We all know wickets in India are helpful for spinners, and they will turn. That is our strength. It is important to play to our strengths. But as of now I am not sure how the wicket is going to be," he added. Besides three-match Test series against New Zealand, India will also play five-match ODI series, starting on October 16 at HPCA Stadium. (ANI)