New Zealand have proved to be tough customers for India in one-day internationals at home in recent times. And that's good for the home side, as it has enabled them to do a reality check after cruising home against Australia in the preceding ODI series. The emphatic way the Kiwis won the first ODI in Mumbai was indeed a wake-up call for the Indians, especially for their spinners who had held sway over the struggling Aussie batsmen. India had to rethink their strategy after the Mumbai defeat and decided to bench chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav and induct left-arm spinner Axar Patel.

New Zealand's pacer Tim Southee kicks a football during practice at Kanpur on Saturday. Pic/PTI