India won the toss and sent New Zealand into bat on the first day of the first cricket test at Seddon Park here today.
Auckland opener Martin Guptill makes his test debut while New Zealand have recalled experienced pace bowler Chris Martin after he was dropped for the drawn series against the West Indies in December.
Kyle Mills passed a fitness test on a shoulder early today meaning uncapped right armer Brent Arnel has been omitted.
India have opted for Munaf Patel as their third seamer ahead of Lakshmipathy Balaji and and the uncapped Dhawal Kulkarni.
The three match series continues in Napier on March 26-30 while the final test is in Wellington between April 3-7.
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, James Franklin, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin, Jeetan Patel (12th man).
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Lakshmipathy Balaji (12th man).
