Fresh from their 2-1 ODI series win over Australia, India now make the journey across the Tasman Sea to take on New Zealand.
The two teams will first meet in a five-match ODI series which begins on Wednesday at McLean Park in Napier.
Ahead of the enticing battle between the Blackcaps and the Indians, we take a look at three key battles which could prove decisive in the final outcome of the series.
Kane Williamson v Bhuvneshwar Kumar
With Jasprit Bumrah handed a rest following his exertions in the Test series win over Australia, the onus of leading India’s new-ball attack will fall on Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s shoulders in New Zealand.
Bhuvneshwar will have to be at his very best to compensate for the absence of the No1 ODI bowler in the world. The seamer was in impressive form in the ODI series in Australia where he finished at the leading wicket-taker with eight scalps to his name.
Bhuvi will be tasked with getting India the early breakthroughs and he will have his work cut out against Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson. The Blackcaps captain has shown remarkable consistency across all formats and is in scorching form currently after registering two half-centuries in the three ODIs against Sri Lanka.
This battle at the top could set the tone for the rest of the series.
Kane Williamson (l) v Bhuvneshwar Kumar (r).
Trent Boult v Virat Kohli
While Williamson will need to be wary of Bhuvneshwar’s threat, his India counterpart Virat Kohli will be mindful of the danger posed by the left-arm pace of Trent Boult.
‘El Boulto’ has been New Zealand’s primary wicket-taking threat in the limited-overs format and his ability to bring the ball back sharply into the right-hander can challenge India’s batsmen.
Boult has troubled Kohli in the past and his duel with the in-form India superstar should be a treat to watch for all cricket lovers. Kohli has been irresistible in the ODI format for years and recently notched up his 39th ton in the format in Australia.
Boult was slightly expensive in the last series against Sri Lanka and he will have to be at his very best to stop Kohli.
Trent Boult (l) v Virat Kohli (r).
Ross Taylor v Kuldeep/Chahal
While Kohli was the standout ODI batsman in 2018, Ross Taylor was not far behind with the Kiwi middle-order stalwart amassing 920 innings in just 13 innings at an outstanding average of 92.
The 34-year-old has hit a purple patch ever since he underwent a corrective eye surgery in 2016 and has been piling on the runs ever since. In 2018 alone, the right-hander struck three tons and six half-centuries in the format.
How Taylor fares against India’s wrist-spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will be crucial for the hosts. Taylor is one of New Zealand’s better players of spin and if he can impose himself against the two spinners, India could find the going tough.
Kuldeep was excellent for India in the limited-overs format in 2018 but was off-colour in the series win over Australia. Chahal though, comes into the series on the back of a match-winning performance in the series decider against the Aussie where he picked up a six-wicket haul.
Ross Taylor (l) v Kuldeep Yadav (r).
