With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in their squad, India will play against the Kiwis in a three-match ODI series starting on Sunday, followed by a five-match T20I series.
The T20 World Cup will take place from February 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka.
“We’ll turn our attention to the T20 World Cup in a month. For now, our focus is on the ODI series against India, who have some strong bowlers in the likes of Bumrah and Chakravarthy,” Mitchell told the media during New Zealand Cricket Golf Day organized with TCM Sports.
“A key value for us as the New Zealand cricket team is to be present in the moment and tackle the challenge at hand.
“What’s exciting is that we have three ODIs against a world-class Indian team in their home conditions in front of full crowds. So, we’ll stay grounded, manage the present, and look forward to the World Cup in a month,” he added.
Interestingly, Bumrah and Chakravarthy will not participate in the ODI series but are expected to play in the T20Is.
Mitchell mentioned that he aims to leverage his experience from playing in India when it comes to dealing with spinners.
“I’ve been playing international cricket for several years now, and adapting to various conditions worldwide is a crucial part of that,” he stated.
“It’s a significant challenge coming into these conditions. As a New Zealander, you generally don’t grow up playing on pitches like this. I will draw from my experiences over the past few years and focus on the positives, such as the ODI World Cup in 2023,” he added.
New Zealand batter Henry Nicholls noted that competing against India on their home turf will be motivating for the younger players, especially with the potential of playing in the IPL, but emphasized keeping things straightforward.
“Few places around the globe can rival the excitement and passion of the fans here. We also have some new faces in the squad who haven’t experienced this atmosphere,” he remarked.
“Every time we play for New Zealand, there’s immense pride, and we strive to perform well. For new players, playing against India in their conditions will be invaluable.” “While it’s certainly an exciting opportunity, the interest when playing here—both from the fans and globally—is immense, and testing yourself against the best team in their conditions is the challenge we face,” he added.
Nicholls emphasized the importance of simplicity for the young players in the Kiwis’ touring squad.
“At times it can be overwhelming, but as we often discuss in our group, being a BlackCap is all about keeping things simple, understanding your role, and executing that to the best of your ability,” he explained.
“It’s also about embracing the external noise and finding enjoyment in it. Few places in the world boast the same level of interest and excitement as when you play a match in India at these grounds filled with fans,” he added.
Nicholls, who has toured India previously, mentioned that not much is known about the venues for the first two ODIs in Vadodara and Rajkot.
“Not too much, to be honest. I played in Indore last time. We’re here in the one-day series, which tends to be quite high-scoring,” he said.
“Whenever you tour, assessing the conditions and venues is crucial. Particularly in India, the dimensions of the grounds and the outfield can significantly influence scores,” he stated.
