'We will have good crowds thanks to Rohit Sharma and Virat kohli' - Mitchell Santner lauds India's iconic duo ahead of 1st ODI

Auckland will host the opening match of a five-game ODI series between India and New Zealand on November 4, following an entertaining T20I contest that concluded with India winning 3-2.

After taking an unassailable 3-0 lead by winning the first three matches, India saw New Zealand fight back strongly to claim the final two games and secure a respectable finish to the shorter format series.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner addressed reporters on the eve of the opening ODI, expressing confidence

that India's famous duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would draw strong crowds throughout the series. The New Zealand skipper highlighted the quality and experience of the two former India captains, both of whom continue to perform at a high level despite being in the latter stages of their international careers.

"We've had some really good crowds throughout the T20 series, and I expect that to continue with Rohit and Virat here. We know how good they are. Although they are getting on in their careers, they are still playing very well, as we saw in the recent series against the West Indies," Santner said.

How will New Zealand counter India's batting strength?

Shubman Gill has also caught Santner's attention as a significant threat in India's top order. The New Zealand captain recognised Gill's impressive form over the past five years, acknowledging the challenge posed by India's experienced batting unit during the upcoming series.

New Zealand's bowling group has prepared a detailed strategy to counter India's batting strengths in local conditions. Santner explained the complexity of executing plans on pitches that may offer varying degrees of assistance to the bowlers, drawing on his experience watching Indian batters perform in different formats.

"I've watched them play for a long time, including Rohit in the IPL. We've obviously sat down as a bowling group and discussed what India's batting line-up looks like and how we need to operate in New Zealand. We know how to bowl on these pitches, but the challenge is understanding what to do when the conditions offer some assistance to the bowlers," Santner said.

The New Zealand captain stressed the importance of sustained bowling discipline in ODI cricket. He outlined how New Zealand would approach the series by maintaining consistent pressure and capitalising on any pitch conditions that favour the bowlers, particularly against India's top order.

"I think if we can get into their top order, particularly with Shubman Gill, who has been outstanding over the last five years, we can put ourselves in a good position. In one-day cricket, it's about bowling good deliveries consistently and building pressure over a period of time. If the pitch offers more assistance than it did the other night, the key will be to maintain that pressure for a longer period and keep challenging the batters," Santner said.