New Zealand’s veteran fast bowler Tim Southee is proud of the historic series win against India. The Kiwis won the opening Test at Bengaluru by eight wickets and then defeated the home team by 113 runs at Pune to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The visitors ticked the right boxes in the first two Tests of the series and outplayed Rohit Sharma’s team by coming up with a collective effort. While the tourists got the better of India on a seam-friendly pitch in Bengaluru, they bested the hosts on a spin-friendly track in Pune.
Meanwhile, India was unbeaten at home in the last 12 years and they had won their last 18 Test series while playing in the home conditions.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Tim Southee said, “I think if you look at it from my perspective and the cricket I’ve played in the past however many years, I think you look at India and Australia are the two places that are probably the most difficult to tour. But I think you look at this one in particular, 12 years, 18 series. It’s nice to be that side that’s broken that run. I guess it shows to other teams around the world that it is possible to beat India in India.”
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma admitted he misread the pitch in Bengaluru after he decided to bat first on a seam-friendly track. India was bundled out for their lowest-ever score in home conditions – 46 and Southee reckons they were lucky with the toss in the opening Test.
”I guess we got a bit lucky with the toss in Bangalore and it worked out. Probably no one in their wildest dreams expected the wicket to have reacted like that. That was a big part, but we just adapted to that. It wasn’t what we expected, but we were able to adapt to it and give ourselves a good chance in that Test. I think the second Test was just what you expected.”
Southee feels playing according to the match situation is his team’s biggest strength.
“You can’t pre-plan too much. I guess that’s the strength of our side. Playing what’s in front of you and just taking on and accepting the challenge right there.”
The third and final Test match between India and New Zealand will be played at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai from November 1 onwards.
