Spin, expect spin. India and more specifically, the Kanpur pitch for the first Test will offer plenty for the spinners and perhaps a little for our seam bowlers if they are graced with an opportunity to take the new-ball on the first or second day. Excitement for this first Test stems from this being a huge challenge for a Blackcaps team who are nicely equipped to deal with such a challenge, although the start as the heavy underdogs given how dominant India have been in home conditions.

While we can all feel good about our Blackcaps and their development in Test cricket, or how slick a limited overs team they are, we can't ignore that this team has been touched up by quality opposition on three occasions now. Australia proved to be far too clinical in the whites, then the Blackcaps went to South Africa and again got taught a lesson in the basics of Test cricket and now they face India, in India. We have seen this Blackcaps team struggle in conditions that should apparently favour them against quality opposition, so to be honest; it's hard to see the Blackcaps making any waves in India.

That shouldn't have any influence on how we feel about this Test series and the first Test, because this is a new challenge for a Blackcaps team that is still building towards their best work. Excitement stems from the challenge that awaits and in my time following the Blackcaps, I can't remember a Blackcaps team going to India with three spinners who are of Test-calibre (not just some domestic battlers who have been picked because it's India).

Given that Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi and Mark Craig will be facing off against the likes of Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja and Amit Mishra along with a gang of Indian batsmen who eat spin for brekky, we shouldn't expect success. With the long-term in mind, this series will be a dramatic learning curve for Santner and Sodhi as they continue to come to grips with Test cricket, then throw the competitive vibes into the equation as well. We are still looking for a certified No.1 spinner and as I hope that all three are selected alongside Trent Boult and Neil Wagner, we will be treated to a mini battle between our three spinners with the winner likely to be given that No.1 spot in the near future.

Boult and Wagner will play their role, especially if the ball starts to reverse-swing via an abrasive pitch. This would suit Wagner perfectly and even Boult will be eyeing up some reverse if not some genuine swing with the new ball. While we are nicely equipped in the spin department for this challenge, we've also got one of the best flat-deck seamers in the world and Wagner will likely relish the opportunity to test India's batsmen; I doubt India's batsmen would have faced too many bowlers like Wagner in India who can deliver a perfect short-ball without any assistance from the pitch.

We need to remember that our bowlers will be bowling to Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Chestehwar Pujara etc in their conditions. These lads are the best batsmen in the world and we're in their conditions, so it's gonna be tough.

If you could have @imVkohli or Kane Williamson in your side, who would you pick? #howzstat #IndvNZ pic.twitter.com/CtMSmsC1Uc
— ICC (@ICC) September 20, 2016

Then we've got our batsmen, well we've got Kane Williamson. Williamson rivals Kohli and Rahane as a genuine world-class batsman and the battle between Williamson and Kohli especially, will be mouth-watering. Ross Taylor doesn't have a great record in India, averaging 32.55 and besides his average of 7.83 in South Africa, Taylor's average in India is the lowest of any country he's played in.

Just as it's difficult to see our spinners bowling India out twice, it's difficult to see anyone besides Williamson and possibly Taylor dominating the best spin-bowling attack on their home turf. Ashwin's got his nose ahead of Yasir Shah as the best spinner in the world and his off-spin is backed up by Jadeja's left-arm spin, then Mishra could offer some leggies as well. They have all the bases covered, they are bloody good at what they do and our batting line up stunk in South Africa so they're not exactly high in confidence.

That doesn't really matter though, because for our young batsmen like Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls, this is all about the challenge that awaits them. For those who don't share my long-term vision, this could be a depressing series as our batsmen will likely struggle to get on top of India's bowlers and this will be a battle of survival, not exactly scoring runs freely.

All eyes will be on Martin Guptill, yet I think there's a bigger picture to worry about. If Jeet Raval was on tour, then I'd be watching Guptill's work closely as I'm keen to see Raval get a run but he's back in Aotearoa and apparently Guptill's challenger to open is Luke Ronchi which is a merely plugging a hole. There's not long-term plan there, which is all good, we've just got bigger fish to fry than Guptill's failings and a stop-gap opener in Ronchi.

Over the past 12 months, I've seen the Blackcaps struggle to execute basic Test cricket skills. There's been a lack of patience, a lack of mental fortitude and the inability to bowl six deliveries in the same spot for example, thus building pressure. Australia and South Africa displayed those skills with both bat and ball which is why they put the Blackcaps in their place and now we will be treated to a similar challenge, in very different conditions.

Underdogs for sure, perhaps no hope of winning. But like with the Guptill situation, I'm more concerned with how the Blackcaps play - can they show signs of the patience and skill required to win Tests - instead of the result. This team has the tools to put some pressure on India which is exciting; how those tools perform or simply show signs of improvement will be the most intriguing aspect of this series.