Vettori worry of India's hard-hitting batsmen by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	DL Vettori
Event:	India in New Zealand 2008/09

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DateLine: 17th February 2009

 

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori says the prospect of facing Indian big-hitters like Virender Sehwag and Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the upcoming home series is daunting as it will be tough to contain them on the small grounds. The last time India toured New Zealand six years ago they went down 0-2 in Tests and lost the One-day series 2-5. But India's current form in all three forms of the game has Vettori worried and he said stopping Dhoni and Sehwag could turn into a nightmare for his bowlers.

 

"You look at the individual players and some of the world's best are coming," Vettori said. "Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virender Sehwag batting on the little grounds in New Zealand is pretty scary," the skipper said. However, Vettori is seeking comfort from India's past record here.

 

"You balance that with them being notorious for not touring New Zealand all that well," he said. Vettori said he is also hoping to take some positives out of the drawn One-day series against Australia. New Zealand could claim moral victory though Ricky Ponting's men retained the Chappell Hadlee Trophy after the series finished 2-2 with the decider being washed out.

 

The skipper was also satisfied with the way the newcomers have performed. "I'm happy these guys keep turning up and performing. You throw the likes of Scott Styris, Jesse Ryder and Jacob Oram to come back into the mix, then we've got a nice group of 15-16 (to choose from)."

 

India start their New Zealand tour with two Twenty20 internationals starting February 25 before taking on the hosts in five One-dayers and three Tests.