Ishant ruled out of first Test for India

India pace ace Ishant Sharma has been ruled out of the first Test against New Zealand, beginning in Kanpur on Thursday, as he continues to recover from chikungunya, a rare mosquito-borne viral disease.

Ishant took seven wickets across four Tests in India's rain-affected series win over West Indies in the Caribbean recently and the 72-Test veteran remains a key plank in the three-pronged pace attack alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami.

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"Ishant Sharma is recovering from chikungunya and will not be available for the first Test match," India coach Anil Kumble said after training yesterday.

"We'll be closely monitoring his progress with the doctors and then take a call on his fitness after this Test.

"For this Test, the team management has decided that we won't need a replacement. We'll have 14 players, and we'll select our team from them."

The decision not to call up a replacement paceman means either squad member Umesh Yadav will earn selection, or perhaps more likely, India will play two pacemen and three spinners, with front-line offie Ravichandran Ashwin assuming the allrounder role at No.6.

Ashwin could be joined in the spin department by left-arm orthodox tweaker Ravindra Jadeja and leg-spinner Amit Mishra as Virat Kohli's side look to utilise their home conditions.

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India, the world's second-ranked Test nation, are playing their 500th Test match, are unbeaten in their past 11 home Tests dating back to December 2012, and have won nine of their past 10.

New Zealand last played in India in August-September 2012, losing a two-match series 2-0 including the opener by an innings and 115 runs.

Ashwin took 18 wickets for the series, with 12 in the first, while Ross Taylor was the lone centurion for the visitors.

"It's a tough place to play, particularly in recent years," said Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson on his arrival in India.

"The pitches have been very tricky and you throw in world-class spinners, the challenge is very tough."

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New Zealand are without their most experienced paceman, Tim Southee, who has an ankle injury, and allrounder Jimmy Neesham, who was also ruled out of the series opener with rib damage.

INDIA: Virat Kohli (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Coach: Anil Kumble

NEW ZEALAND: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling. Coach: Mike Hesson