Kiwi batsman Daryl Mitchell stated on Wednesday that New Zealand is concentrating on the immediate issue of taking on the Indian bowlers in the forthcoming white-ball series rather than the T20 World Cup, which is still one month away.
India will play the Kiwis in a three-match ODI series beginning on Sunday with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in their ranks and that will be followed by a five-match T20I series.
India and Sri Lanka will host the T20 World Cup from February 7 to March 8.
“We’ll look at the T20 World Cup in a month’s time. For now, we’ll worry about playing an ODI series against India, and they’ve got some pretty good bowlers with the likes of Bumrah and Chakravarthy,” a PTI report quoted Mitchell as saying.
“A really key value for us as the New Zealand team is being where our feet are and that means being in the present and what the challenge is at that moment.
“The exciting thing is we got three ODIs against the world-class Indian team in Indian conditions in front of full crowds. So we’ll be where our feet are. We’ll control the now and we’ll look forward to the World Cup in a month,” he added.
Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy will play in the T20Is but not in the ODI series and Mitchell stated that when it comes to dealing with spinners, he will try to use his experience of playing in India.
“I’ve been playing international cricket for a little while now and as a part of playing international cricket you have to adapt to different conditions all around the world.”
“It’s a great challenge when you come into these parts. As a New Zealander, you don’t grow up on surfaces like this. So I’ll be able to draw on experiences that I’ve had in the last few years and take on the positives such as the ODI World Cup in 2023,” the PTI report added Mitchell as saying.
Playing against India in their own country will be like a “carrot” for the youngsters, according to fellow batsman Henry Nicholls, but they will need to keep things simple.
“There’s not many places around the world they have the same excitement and passion that the fans here do. We’ve got some fresh guys in the squad as well who haven’t experienced it,” the PTI report quoted Nicholls as saying.
“Anytime we play for New Zealand, there’s a lot of pride and we want to compete and play really well. There’s a couple of new faces and for them coming over here and playing against India in their own conditions will be invaluable.”
“I’m sure there’ll be an absolute carrot, but again, the interest when you play over here certainly from the fans, but also around the world. That’s what you want to test yourself against… the best team in their own conditions,” he added.
According to Nicholls, it will be crucial to keep things easy for the young players in the Kiwis’ touring squad.
“(It can be) overload at times, but as we always talk about in the group, as Black Caps it’s about is keeping it really simple and guys knowing what their role is and in doing that as best you can,” he said.
“And accepting a bit of the outer noise and actually enjoying it as well. I say there’s not many places you play in the world that has the level of interest and excitement as when you play a game in India at these grounds with the fans,” he added.
Even though having toured India previously, Nicholls said there was limited knowledge about the venues for the first two ODIs in Vadodara and Rajkot.
“Yeah, not too much. I played (in) Indore last time. We’re here in the one-day series, so this is quite a high scoring game. But anytime you go around the world it’s about assessing those conditions and grounds. Especially in India, the grounds sizes and outfield and stuff like that can affect the scores,” he said.
