A strenuous journey, prolonged by transit layovers at Hong Kong and Auckland, was followed by baggage-collecting hassles and rain as the Indian team arrived here for the cricket series against New Zealand starting February 25.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men struggled to collect their suitcases and cricket kits at the Auckland airport after enduring a 10-hour flight from Hong Kong. They waited for another three hours at Auckland before boarding a flight for here, making it a bone-weary 27-hour trip from Mumbai.