New Zealand vs India 2014: 5 Kiwi players to watch out for in ODI series

A new year. A new shirt sponsor. A new look side from the previous tours there, but MS Dhoni had to face similar questions at his first press conference in New Zealand in the lead up to the ODI series, which begins on Sunday.

Not only would Dhoni have to contend with India’s tag of being lambs abroad, but also with the fact that New Zealand are a fast improving ODI outfit. They drew their recent series against the West Indies, and it was a series that was adorned by impressive Kiwi performances.

Here are 5 players to keep an eye out for in the upcoming ODIs:

1. Corey Anderson

Corey Anderson

How can you ignore someone who, only 2 weeks ago, scored the fastest ever century this format has seen?

Yes, the boundaries were small, but the way Anderson hit the ball at Queenstown was special. Anderson has had many tongues wagging about how far he can go, with his immense ball striking ability, but he is a useful bowling option as well, with his accurate left-arm medium pace not easy to get away.

Anderson has long been earmarked as something special in New Zealand cricket circles, and the India series will surely be a bigger test than the erratic West Indies side he faced on that day in Queenstown.

2. Mitchell McClenaghan

Mitchell McClenaghan

McClenaghan had an awesome 2013 with the ball, and fast rose into prominence, as one of New Zealand’s strike bowlers in ODI Cricket.

The numbers also do justice to the claims. McClenaghan picked up 40 wickets in 15 ODIs in 2013, at an average of 19, with a strike rate of 20 balls per wicket.

Be it with the new ball or at the death, Brendon McCullum has more often than not, turned to McClenaghan and the left arm quick has not disappointed.