New Zealand will not start as favourites despite facing an Indian team missing several key players, skipper Kane Williamson said on Wednesday, as the world’s two top-ranked teams geared up for a spin battle in their first Test.

Hosts India have rested skipper Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami while opener KL Rahul was ruled out of the two-Test series on Tuesday after a leg injury. New Zealand are the No.1 Test side and reigning World Test champions, but are still wary of the hosts, who have often proved formidable in home conditions. “I don’t think we are favourites,” Williamson said on the eve of the first Test in Kanpur.