India have won the toss and elected to bat first in the consequential third and final match of the three-Test series against New Zealand at the Holkar stadium here.
After two years, Gautam Gambhir has finally been included in the playing XI for the final match of the Test series.
In the bowling department, India will miss the services of medium pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is out with a back injury after grabbing a five-wicket haul in the first innings in Kolkata.
Although Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur has been roped in as a replacement for Bhuvneshwar but Umesh Yadav is most likely to partner Mohammed Shami with the new ball.
In the spin department, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and left-armer Ravindra Jadeja are automatic choices and could spell more trouble for the visitors.
For New Zealand, captain Kane Williamson, who missed the second game returned to the playing eleven and Jimmy Neesham comes in for Neil Wagner.
Kiwis will be aiming to stop the hosts from notching up their 12th win at home from the last 14 encounters.
The visitors will also count on opener Martin Guptill to provide a sound start with Tom Latham, who has been in good nick in the series. Senior batsman Ross Taylor, who was the stand-in-skipper in the second Test also showed signs of coming back to form.
If the Kiwis want a turnaround in their fortunes, the middle order comprising Williamson, Luke Ronchi, B.J. Watling and Mitchell Santner will have to step on the gas while facing the Indian spinners.
In the bowling department, pacers Trent Boult and Neil Wagner have been in good form but spinners Ish Sodhi and Santner failed to put any pressure on the Indian batters.
Teams:
India: Murli Vijay, Gautam Gambhir, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Wridhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami.
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (captain), Ross Taylor, L. Ronchi, M.J. Santner, B.J. Watling, J.S. Patel, Jimmy Nisham, M.J. Henry, T.A. Boult.
