Not easy for off-colour Guptill to be aggressive in subcontinent: Kumble

Kolkata, Sep 28 (IANS) India head coach Anil Kumble on Wednesday opted to play mindgames to put pressure on Martin Guptill, saying it wouldn't be easy for the out of form New Zealand opener to play in his typical aggressive style in subcontinental conditions.

"Well it's never easy for someone to come to the subcontinent and play his shots. He is a strokemaker. We know Guptill is a quality player and it's not easy coming to the subcontinent having not had good form," Kumble told mediapersons here.

Up 1-0 in the three-Test series, India take on New Zealand at Eden Gardens here from Friday.

Guptill's lacklustre form has continued in the first Test at Kanpur, where he managed only 21 and 0 runs in the two innings. Earlier, the right hander had managed scores of 7, 8 and 0 in the two Tests at home against South Africa.

In a lighter vein, Kumble added he wanted Guptill's run drought to continue.

"From our perspective we hope that continues. It's important for the opposition. You like the openers to get out early. That's what we like to look at doing. That's true of any Test team."

Kumble, however, praised off-spinner Jeetan Patel who has been named as the replacement for tweaker Mark Craig.

"We know he has played a lot for New Zealand. He's done well in the county championship recently as well. We know quite a bit about what he can do. And with his experience I'm sure that's something we will look out for," the legendary leg spinner said.

The 36-year-old Patel had played his previous Test match in South Africa in January, 2013.

A successful county stint with Warwickshire in England apart, he has picked up 52 wickets in Tests.

--IANS

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