New Zealand’s veteran batter Ross Taylor reckons any time they play in India, they start the series as an underdog.
India has an impeccable record in its own conditions and is almost invincible in its own backyard. The home team is always a force to reckon and it is never easy for a touring team to surprise them.
When India and New Zealand last met in the Indian conditions in 2016, the former had convincingly won the three-match Test series by 3-0. It is never easy for the visitors to play against Indian spinners in the tough conditions and the spin trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel are expected to breathe down the neck of the opposition batters.
However, at the same time, it will be foolish to rule out New Zealand, who are the World Test Championship winners. Furthermore, India won’t have the services of their full-time skipper Virat Kohli (only for the first Test), Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and Mohammad Shami.
“We’ve gone so many years as underdogs. But now coming in as champions: I guess the element of surprise is gone. But any time you play India at home you’re going to be the underdogs, whether you’re No. 1 in the world or where they sit in international cricket at the time. They are resting a couple of players but they’re still a formidable side and know these conditions really well,” Taylor is quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
“The way we adapt to these conditions is going to be the key going forward. Some of the guys have played many a time here before. We’ll be looking forward to hopefully use that experience to make things slightly easier but we know it’s going to be tough,” he said.
On the other hand, Taylor is satisfied with the team’s preparation ahead of the two-match Test series and he is hopeful that they will be able to hit the ground running.
“When you’re coming to India you want to play as much cricket as you want and can,” Taylor said. “Preparation so far has been fantastic. (But) it’s a little bit different having no net bowlers, you know, facing our [own] bowlers as preparation. It’s been key”.
“I have been lining up to face spinners, they bowl a lot of overs. Normally you (also) get 10-15 overs of net bowlers of spin to practice. It is slightly different but it is what it is and it’s an interesting challenge both on the field and off it as well.”
The first Test match will be played in Kanpur from November 25.
