India take on Kiwis in first ODI

India skipper Shikhar Dhawan views the oneday series against New Zealand as part of their preparation for the home World Cup next year but rival captain Kane Williamson preferred to stay in the present yesterday.

The importance of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand was not lost on Dhawan, who is leading an India side bereft of senior batters, including regular captain Rohit Sharma. “It’s a good exposure for the young boys to come and play in New Zealand and test their skills and characters in different conditions,” Dhawan told reporters on the eve of the first ODI in Auckland today.

For Williamson, the immediate target was to win the series. “(I’m) reluctant to call it preparation, it’s very much focusing on the series at hand and the cricket we want to play,” he said.