India vs New Zealand 2016: 5 things the Kiwis must do to win the Test series

Mike Hesson will face one of his biggest challenges against the Indians

The visiting Kiwis have made all the right noises in India so far. Captain Kane Williamson, coach Mike Hesson, off-spinner Mark Craig and experienced batsman Ross Taylor have all had tete-a-tetes with the media after landing in New Delhi, the country’s capital, where they play their only three-day warm-up match on September 16 before the three-Test series commences on September 22.

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Apart from coming across as their usual humble and intelligent selves, they have also quite rightly, in a way acknowledged the enormity of the challenge at hand. The challenge of trying to beat global cricketing super power India in their backyard in a Test series. Something they have never achieved before. However, it is certainly not impossible.

The recent year mauling of powerful Test teams like South Africa and Australia notwithstanding, The Kiwis only need to look at the fact that since 1983, that is since India’s rise as a cricketing superpower, all except Sri Lanka and New Zealand among major Test playing nations, have beaten India in India.The English have done it twice, the last one being as recently as the 2012-13 series.

New Zealand will believe they have the squad to do it and that is among a few prerequisites along with belief, before any kind of execution can take shape. In spite of their world number seven ranking in the format (to India’s two) a good solid Test squad is what New Zealand have visiting India, after a considerable length of time actually.

They have all departments covered and the core of the side have been together for a while now. While there is a touch of inexperience, especially in the spin department, there are quite a few players who are not making their first Test tour of India and others who have been playing in the country for a while in the IPL.

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So here are five absolute imperatives which they will have to execute on the field, to have a semblance of a chance to upset India’s applecart.

#5 Target playing 100 overs in the first innings

HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND - DECEMBER 19: Martin Guptill of New Zealand bats during day two of the Second Test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Seddon Park on December 19, 2015 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images) — Guptill’s experience playing in India will be vital

The first batting innings has always been crucial while playing Tests in India. While it holds true for both sides, it is more so for the visitors. Old timers and veteran international cricketers here will tell you that you have to bat big and long in the first innings of a Test match in India, to stand a chance.

The pitch is best to bat on early in the Test, as by the fourth day, Indian pitches can start to behave really funny. The thing about setting a target of 100 overs is that by then bowlers and fielders start to get tired and slow and runs begin to flow, helping the batting team get to a total which hopefully does not make them lose the Test.

So Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill and BJ Watling – put your head down and bat, bat and bat at the very first opportunity. Do not bother about rate of scoring till you have batted a 100 overs.