It Will Be A Challenge For Openers In New Zealand - Sachin Tendulkar

After an incredible display of cricketing skills at home, the Indian National Cricket Team set to lock horns with the New Zealand Cricket Team, starting on January 24th at Auckland. Though they announced the squad for the T20 format, BCCI is yet to name ODI and Test squads. Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar highlights a key point ahead of the selection.

Having toured New Zealand five times during his illustrious 25-year-long career, Sachin Tendulkar feels the pitches there have become a lot more batting-friendly than it used to be. Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday identified the biggest challenge for the openers in the overseas series and added that Rohit Sharma’s experience of opening in the limited-overs series may help him in the Test format to do so.

If they provide green tops, then it’s a challenge – Sachin Tendulkar 

Rohit was tried as the opening batsman for India in the Test format in the series against South Africa last year. The right-handed batsman smashed two tons in his debut as Test opener, becoming the first Indian to do so. He then followed it up with a double ton in the 3rd Test of the series at Ranchi. Having bossed the role of an opener in Tests at home, Tendulkar backed Rohit Sharma to continue the good form in overseas conditions as well.

“The challenge would be to go out and open in different conditions. I think Rohit had opened in New Zealand in ODIs and has been there quite a few times, he knows the conditions well,” he told news agency PTI.

”But the former India batsman added that the pitch prepared by New Zealand may still pose a challenge for Rohit in the longest format. “But all depends on the surfaces that they provide. If they provide green tops, then it’s a challenge,” he said.

It still remains to be seen whether Dhawan gets fit to be recalled into the Indian team for the ODIs and Tests. But in case he doesn’t get fit, it might pave way for India to announce the return of KL Rahul or Prithvi Shaw in the Test team. India will play five T20Is, three ODIs and two Test during a nearly two-month-long tour.

Also Read: New Zealand vs India 2020: 5 Players To Watch Out For In The T20I Series