Under his captaincy, India drew a Test series against the mighty Australians in Australia in 2003-04 and also drew a Test series against England in their backyard in 2002. They will be largely responsible for upholding New Zealand’s reputation for flailing against spin. They are not just good at home, they tour really well.
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“We believe we certainly have what it takes to be the best team in the world”, the 27-year-old told reporters on the eve of what would be India’s 500th test.
“They have all the three different spin variations – left-arm spinner, off-spinner and leg-spinner. Yes, we respect the opponents, not just in the spin department but in all departments, in the all-round ability of the New Zealand side”, he added.
However, Rahane insisted that the team was focussed only on performing, irrespective of the conditions.
“Nobody is demanding anything”. We will have to bowl wells. In West Indies, during the washed out final Test, they did go in with just four bowlers. “It is a given that home conditions will favor the home team where spin is a dominant force, but not where (from) the first ball you have dust coming off”. But since I am the coach, I can’t think like that.
There are three reasons for his confidence: the surface is hard and the cracks aren’t loose; the binding qualities of the Kanpur soil evidently make it unlikely to break up; and the pitch is being watered consistently to aid the process of keeping the soil intact. “According to me, it is a typical Kanpur wicket”.
“Ashwin is a major threat, but I suppose you never really know (how the pitch will play) until a match starts”, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said, who then seemed to answer his own doubt. It is looking good. “You want to play bold cricket, take risks”, said Kohli. As a team, we don’t focus on the pitch, we are focused on putting up a good performance.
“The weather is not in our control but we have generally seen slow and low wickets here, like it was in the ODI against South Africa past year”.
Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma.
The quick, who has taken 209 wickets in 72 Test matches, needs time to recover after being laid low with the mosquito-borne virus.
“For this Test, the team management has decided that we would not need a replacement”. We have played on and off. The Test will be the first of 13 at home this season and after spending a brief time in the no.1 in the Test rankings in August, the team will aim to use this long season to retake the spot and consolidate their hold on it.
When the world feared the potent West Indian pace battery of the 70’s and 80’s, Sunil Gavaskar stood up to the challenge and combated them with his stoic defence and calm temperament.
Speaking on the challenges facing a modern-day cricketer, Kumble said switching formats is not easy with so much T20 cricket being played.
The following decade saw the emergence of many iconic Indian players who made India a real force in home conditions. “Most of the New Zealand players have played in the IPL, so they know what to expect and how to adapt”. But the main attraction will be the players themselves – both teams combined have quite a few players to watch out for. Although the first of the 21 Tests here was played way back in 1952, the last one came seven years ago.
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Kumble in the past has been beneficiary of such home pitches where matches have ended inside three days in India’s favour.
