5 New Zealand players who can pose a threat against India

New Zealand have announced their squad for the tour to India. There are no surprises in the squad and the selectors have gone in with a tried and tested squad.

The players who have been selected have displayed great pedigree over the years and hence there is optimism prevailing everywhere about the prospect of the team in India.

Another factor which will help the Kiwis during this tour is the fact that majority of the players in the team have the experience in Indian conditions and the players which form the nucleus of the team were present on their last tour to India in 2012. They have only gone from strength to strength ever since, and one hopes that the series will be a keenly contested affair. The 3-match Test series will begin from September 22.

Here in this list, we take a look at 5 key players who will critical cogs in the New Zealand team.

#5 Trent Boult

Trent Boult has established himself as one of the premier bowlers with the new ball, as he has the ability to move the red ball both ways, even when the conditions do not favour swing bowling.

Over the years he has added an extra yard of pace to his bowling, and on his day can trouble the best in the business. He has a pretty decent record against India, against whom he has picked up 15 wickets in 7 innings at an average of 34.46.

During his last tour to India in 2012, he made a good first impression and picked up 5 wickets in the 2 Test match series.

With experience and expertise at his side, he can now pose a serious threat to the Indian batting line-up with the new ball and then back again with the old ball, as the dusty surfaces will aid reverse swing too.

#4 Ish Sodhi

On slow turning tracks, wrist spinners pose more threat than any other bowlers. Also, leg-spinners are out and out match-winners on their day, and this is why Ish Sodhi can become one the big threats in this series.

The leg-spinner has become a much-improved bowler now and is a much more confident player in the Kiwi ranks. Also, his partnership with Mitchell Santner has become a potent one for New Zealand.

Sodhi who earned a recall to the Test team after a 2-year long hiatus made immediate impression against Zimbabwe in which picked up eight wickets in the two Tests at an average of 24.87.

He was also one of the driving forces behind New Zealand's impressive show in the 2016 World T20 in India. The Ludhiana-born lad can certainly surprise many on this tour.

#3 Ross Taylor

A veteran amongst the young prodigies in the team, Ross Taylor can lend experience to the young team. Taylor, who is no stranger to Indian conditions will also be one of the lynchpins of the batting order.

He has the game to counter the Indian spin-bowling attack, and can also counter-attack to combat the turning ball if the need maybe.

His numbers in Asia are pretty decent too. In 28 innings, Taylor has scored 1055 runs at an average of 39.07. This includes 6 half centuries and 3 centuries.

Also, his record against India is not too bad either, as he has scored 659 runs in 16 innings, with an average of 41. He has 3 centuries and 1 half-century to his name.

A certain factor going into this series.

#2 Mitchell Santner

The 24-year-old all-rounder has made massive strides in his short career so far. Indian fans will remember him with a frown, as he was the wrecker-in-chief during India's first match against New Zealand Nagpur in the 2016 World T20.

As a left-arm slow bowler, he can certainly turn the ball, but his biggest asset is his ability to bowl wicket to wicket, a trait which is paramount on slow and turning pitches in India.

Apart from this, he is a handy middle-order batsman and has shown tremendous temperament with the bat in Test cricket. He does not have flattering numbers with the bat, but with the raw talent and potential, there is no reason why he cannot be one of the finds for New Zealand in the upcoming series.

#1 Kane Williamson

The Kiwi captain is one of the best batsmen going around in the world currently. He has shown that he has the game to be successful across all formats in different conditions, and thus will be one the major threats for the Indian bowling attack.

The young player has also given glimpses of his sharp cricketing brain when he devised tactics to adapt to the slow and low Indian pitches during the World T20 earlier this year. He may not be as flamboyant as someone like a Brendon McCullum but he has a tremendous temperament to deliver the goods at the highest level.

His average in Asia is 47 and has 4 half centuries and 4 centuries to his name, a record which can only improve if he plays to his potential in the upcoming series.