New Zealand Need To Win Two Of The Three Series To Get Pass Marks: Craig McMillan

The Black Caps will host India for five-match T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests. Before playing the Test series, both teams will play a three-day practice match. New Zealand had recently defeated England in the two-match Test series at home as they won by 1-0. However, the table turned upside during their tour of Australia.

The Kiwis suffered the biggest humiliation when they were whitewashed by the Aussies in the three-match Test series. On the other end of the spectrum, India will approach the tour with full of confidence under Virat Kohli following a 2-1 ODI series win over the highly-rated Australian side. India will never forget the painful defeat at the hands of New Zealand which came during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

After the semi-final exit, India have been winning series at home and away and are dominating across formats and there is no looking back since then. It is going to be a full-fledged series between India and New Zealand. The two heavyweights will lock horns with each other in the T20I series before playing ODIs and Tests. The first T20I will be played at Eden Park, Auckland on January 24 (Friday).

To get a pass mark, New Zealand need to win two of the three Tests: Crag McMillan

Former all-rounder Craig McMillan said that New Zealand will take on a star-studded Indian cricket team at home. The former Kiwi player feels New Zealand will have to win in two of the three formats in order to get pass marks.

“It’s big. This whole Indian tour is big after what happened in Australia,” McMillan was quoted as saying by ‘Radio Sport Breakfast’ according to PTI.

“This Indian side are a powerhouse. Doesn’t matter if it’s Tests, ODIs, T20s, they are the real deal so it’s going to be a really intriguing tour. For New Zealand to get a pass mark for this tour they need to win two of the three series,” he added.

Craig McMillan reckons that with the ICC T20 World Cup tournament scheduled to be held later this year, it is important for New Zealand to win this assignment and come through with flying colours. “Five Twenty20s to start and I know it’s not everyone’s favourite format of the game but we’ve got a T20 World Cup later in the year in October in Australia so straight away these five matches become important. Because of the performance in Australia we need to start winning again and get that support back,” he added.

“They’re still trying to find in T20 what our best side is. We’ve just seen the Super Smash and there’s an opportunity for some young guys who performed in that to be given a chance,” McMillan added.

Read More: India’s Tour of New Zealand 2020: Schedule, Squads, Match Timings, When and Where to Watch; Everything You Need To Know