The big ticket item of the current New Zealand Cricket summer is here.
The Indian Cricket team, world champions and the second best team in Test cricket, will tour New Zealand for a five-match, one-day international and a two-match test series.
The visit would be the first since 2009.
Fans eagerly await India taking on a resurgent Black Caps team on their home soil. While the World Champion team is coming on the back of a successful home season beating Australia and West Indies in international cricket, New Zealand also has played an entertaining and successful brand of cricket against the West Indies.
Major changes
Indian cricket has gone through major changes in recent times with legendary players like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid retiring.
What has served Indian cricket well is the arrival of young talents like Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, both playing test cricket for the first time on Kiwi shores and carrying a major responsibility for India.
Indian Premier League (IPL), which has been in the news more for off-field controversies than on-field performances, has produced a crop of cricketers giving good results for India in international cricket.
R Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan and Bhuvnesh Kumar gained prominence with their stellar performances in IPL, and are touring New Zealand.
Since this would be their last tour of New Zealand before the Cricket World Cup here next year, they would surely be using the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge of playing in Kiwi conditions.
Black Caps advantage
Black Caps, after a torrid start to 2013, seemed to be hitting their straps as the year ended. The partnership between Captain Brendon McCullum and Coach Mike Hesson seems to have bedded well.
Emergence of players like Corey Anderson and Mitchell McClenghan has given Black Caps potential match winners. Combined with the talents of premier batsmen Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson; Kiwi cricket looks on the right track.
What would be of interest to cricket watchers is the state of pitches on offer. Would New Zealand prepare green, seaming pitches and exploit India’s perceived weakness in such conditions?
India’s first test win in New Zealand after 39 years in 2009 came on a batsmen friendly track in Hamilton.
This series should prove a financial success for New Zealand Cricket. With expected packed stadiums all through, and worldwide television audience of millions this tour is a win-win situation for Kiwi Cricket.
