New Delhi: New Zealand hope their spinners will come in handy in the second Test against India that begins in Pune from Thursday.
The visitors won the first game by eight wickets in Bengaluru and would look to seal the series at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium that is expected to roll out a spin-friendly track.
On a seaming pitch at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, New Zealand bowled out India for 46 runs, their lowest score at home to notch up the victory. It was the first triumph of the Kiwis in India since 1988.
But the visitors expect a different challenge when the second game begins in Pune from Thursday and are willing to adapt to the conditions on offer.
“Whatever we are presented with, for us, it’s about trying to adapt as quick as we can,” said Tom Latham, who is trying to lead New Zealand to their first ever series win in India.
“If it is going to be a wicket that turns a bit more, we have obviously got four spinners in our line-up, so fingers crossed that will play into their hands.”
Latham hopes Ajaz Patel, who leads New Zealand’s spin attack, will play a pivotal role in the game. Patel had earlier become only the third bowler in the history of Test cricket to take all 10 wickets in an innings at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium in 2021.
With new found confidence after their win in Bengaluru, Latham said they are ready to compete even more fiercely now though he is willing to keep his feet on the ground.
“That’s probably the most important thing, that we can come over here, we can compete and we can do well. Both teams start on zero,” he said.
