India will host New Zealand for the three Test match series scheduled to start from October 16 and will be played in Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai respectively. Team India are currently involved in a two-Test match series against Bangladesh where the hosts India have already taken the lead by winning the first clash. On the other hand, New Zealand are currently in Sri Lanka for the two-Test match series where they have lost the first clash.
Former New Zealand opener Martin Guptill reveals that the biggest challenge for BlackCaps in the Test series will be picking the turning ball and more so the odd one that skids through.
“You feel like you can never score sometimes, that's the hardest thing about coming here to India. The ball's turning square, then the same sort of ball comes through and it skids on straight. You never know which one's going to turn and which one's going to go straight, so you have to always be thinking, you have to always be mentally on song and on (the top of) your game," Guptill told PTI.
Guptill emphasized the importance of capitalizing on their advantage against India, who have won their last 17 home series.
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Guptill picks biggest threat to New Zealand
Given their current form, Guptill said it is tough to pick between Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja as the biggest threat for the Kiwis.
“Both of them. I mean, you can't take away (the fact) that (Ravindra) Jadeja scored 86, 89 or something, wasn't it? (They had a) 199 run partnership, you think you've got India against the ropes and then you've got these two come out and bat.”
Jadeja and Ashwin came to India's rescue in the opening Test against Bangladesh in Chennai, turning the tide after the hosts were reduced to 144 for six on the first day. Their impressive 199-run partnership for the seventh wicket helped secure a commanding position for India.
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