New Delhi: The former New Zealand opening batter, Martin Guptill has shared his thoughts on the biggest problems his former side is likely to face ahead of their tour of India for a three-match Test series.
The former Kiwi opening batter revealed in an interview with the Press Trust of India, that the visitors must have a tough task of beating India at their home ground.
The two teams that were part of the inaugural World Test Championship final, will once again come toe-to-toe as the two sides take part in three Tests taking place in Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai starting from October 16.
Reflecting on his experience playing in Indian conditions he opened up on his thoughts regarding the the pitch conditions.
“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,” he shared.
He also emphasised the need to always be on your toes and be in front of the bowler with regard to the mental side of things.
“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 commented on the sidelines of Legends League Cricket.
Guptill highlighted the importance of pressing on the advantage against India who have won their last 17 series at home.
“To try and get on top of India is extremely difficult. But when you feel like you are, you have to try and take that as long as possible in the game,” he said.
Playing in India, Guptill reckons that the players will be tested on both physical and mental fronts. He also emphasised the need to press on the advantage when the visitors have their moment as well to conclude.
“It’s a tough place to play. It’s hot, sweaty and you feel like everything’s against you. But as I said, if you can get try and get on top of them and you feel like you are getting on top of them, you’ve got to try and go as deep as possible in the game,” added the former opener.
Currently, New Zealand will hope that they can take a win in the second Test against Sri Lanka to level the series and hope that their players can come together to hopefully create an upset against the dominant Indian set-up led by Rohit Sharma.
(Source:NEWS18)
