Published: Mar 15, 2016, 08:25 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 15, 2016, 08:25 AM (IST)
Johannesburg: New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has admitted he is wary of the threat Indian bowlers could pose on a spin-friendly pitch as the two sides prepare for their opening World T20 clash at Vidarbha Cricket Stadium in Nagpur on Tuesday. Insisting that spin could play a major role in the T20 format’s pinnacle event, the 25-year-old said that the Nagpur pitch was expected to be slow and could perhaps take a little turn, Sport24 reported. Last Year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had rated the pitch as ‘poor’ after the Test match between India and South Africa ended inside three days. Live Cricket Scorecard: India vs New Zealand, ICC World T20 2016, Match 13 at Nagpur
“We certainly are expecting spin to pay a big part in this tournament,” Williamson told reporters on Tuesday, adding their past record against India would have no bearing on the match.
“I suppose judging by the warm-up games in Mumbai, they had a bit for the seamers and it swung a little bit. They were very good surfaces but from what cricket we have seen here in Nagpur, spin looks likely to play a big part. It’s important that we adjust our gameplan accordingly.”
India and New Zealand have been drawn alongside Australia, Pakistan and Bangladesh in Group B. Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side, who recently clinched their sixth Asia Cup title, will head into the tournament as the number-one ranked team.
