Slow poison for visitors

– New Zealand’s batsmen know they will have to subdue India’s spinners if they are to have any chance of winning their three-match one-day international series starting tomorrow.

Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav (above) and right-arm leg-break Yuzvendra Chahal have established themselves as India’s latest attacking combination, keeping veterans Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja out.

Kuldeep, 22, has emerged as one of the world’s best slow bowlers since taking four wickets in his Test debut against Australia in Dharamsala in March.

He also played a big role in India’s recent 4-1 ODI series victory over Australia, taking a hat-trick in the second match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

He has been well-supported by the 27-year-old Chahal, who tormented the Australians with his deceptive leg-spinners to bag six wickets in four matches.

New Zealand have drafted in leg-spinner Ish Sodhi as a replacement for Todd Astle, who has been ruled out after picking up a groin injury in the warm-up game.

The hosts, second in the ODI rankings, are expected to complement the two spinners with fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

The second ODI takes place in Pune on Wednesday, with the third in Kanpur on October 29. The two sides will then play three T20 matches. –

Mumbai