Biggest challenges Kiwis will pose to India in ODIS

#5 Spin Bowling for Kiwis

Mitchell Santner is a very accurate bowler in the middle overs

The two spinners picked by the New Zealand selectors are Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner. The two are very contrasting in their styles. While Sodhi is a typical leg-spinner who can get wickets but also concede big runs, Santner has emerged as a very reliable economic bowler for the home side who can prevent the quick flow of runs in the middle overs.

To be fair, Sodhi, with T20 experience, has also learned to bowl defensively but being a leggie, is a bit of a bet. Santner, though, uses brilliant variations of flight and speed to keep the batsmen honest. It will be interesting to see whom the team management picks.

Playing Spin

New Zealand batsmen, including Williamson, are very good players of spin bowling

India’s recent success in ODIs has often been through the performances of the wrist-bowling duo – Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. Ravindra Jadeja also bowled well in the Australia series. But they will have a bigger challenge in the form of Kiwi batsmen.

In the last series in New Zealand, in 2014, the Indian spin bowling pair of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja failed miserably against the home team’s batsmen. Williamson’s brilliance in playing spin proved to be a major factor then and could do now also.

The likes of Guptill, Munro and Taylor may be a little more vulnerable but then, Latham too has shown great ability in playing the slower bowlers. That is a big asset. Two good batsmen of spin can turn the tide in favour of the home side.