New Zealand wary of spin threat

Mumbai: New Zealand’s batsmen know they will have to subdue India’s spinners if they are to have any chance of winning their three-match One Day International series starting Sunday.

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and right-arm leg break Yuzvendra Chahal have established themselves as India’s latest attacking combination, keeping veterans Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja out of the team.

Kiwi batsman Tom Latham said the visitors were leaving no stone unturned in seeking a way to counter the Indian pair, who come into the series in the best form of their careers.

“Our focus is big on spin here. We are focusing on facing more spin than seam here and finding ways to score, to hit gaps and find boundaries,” Latham said.

The left-handed Latham said the Kane Williamson-led New Zealanders had taken note of Kuldeep and Chahal’s recent performances.

Kuldeep, 22, has quickly emerged as one of the world’s best slow bowlers since taking four wickets in his Test debut against Australia in Dharamsala in March.

He also played a big role in India’s recent 4-1 ODI series victory over Australia, taking a hat-trick in the second match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. He has been well supported by the 27-year-old Chahal, who tormented the Australians with his deceptive leg spin.

“We obviously know that they (Kuldeep and Chahal) are quality bowlers and they have done really well in the previous series,” Latham added.