India's progression as an all-weather bowling unit and enhanced batting ability against fast bowling overseas has seen the country reign supreme in all formats and this 5-0 T20I series whitewash over New Zealand away from home perfectly reflects its all-round improvement, acknowledged former Kiwi head coach Mike Hesson.
Virat Kohli & company proved too good for the Kiwis, finishing with a rare clean slate in the shortest format of the game after another seven-run victory in the final T20I in Mount Maunganui this Sunday (February 2).
Read Also: "It's hard on body", KL Rahul stresses workload issues amid cramped schedule
"India are far better side now at present and they are improving all the time. Their bowling attack now suits all conditions around the world because their bowlers, pacers and spinners, are so good. That's something they haven't always had," PTI quoted Hesson as saying.
"And their batsmen's ability to play pace bowling has also got better the more they have toured. So this group of players is exceptionally talented group. This series' win will help them (for the World Cup in Australia later this year)."
Black Caps, turning up for this series on the back of an embarrassing 3-0 Test series whitewash in Australia, always had their task cut out in absence of first-choice pacers Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson, who remain unfit and aren't going take the field for the three-match ODI series that begins on Wednesday (February 5) either.
They'll be hoping to have Boult and Ferguson back for the two-match Test series that follows from February 21 and see them do the business as usual in home conditions with Neil Wagner also providing a major boost to the attack.
Winning games, however, won't still be easy against a formidable Indian side, currently on the top of the World Test Championship table.
"New Zealand had a poor tour of Australia and they would be hurt with that. But up to that point, their Test cricket was exceptional in the last 2-3 seasons, probably even longer," Hesson said.
"New Zealand know these conditions well. From a Test bowling point of view, if there is something in the surface, likes of Tim Southee will exploit it and Trent Boult should be back as well. Neil Wagner asks different questions too, so I am really looking forward to it."
"India will have an expectation of winning this Test series. But New Zealand is a very tough place to come and win Test matches. You cannot take anything for granted and I am sure India won't."
The Kiwis must be ruing how they conceded defeats in the last three games; missing out on victories from strong positions. "Losing in such a manner can become a bit of habit. Once New Zealand lost a couple (Super Overs), they almost started dreading the Super Over. And once you do that, you are not in the right frame of mind," Hesson said.
"Once again, even in both those Super Overs, New Zealand were in situations in this series where they could have won it. They will look back in hindsight and wonder if they used the right bowling option (Tim Southee) at that time," he added. "Changes of pace can be useful in a Super Over rather than necessarily trying to bowl yorkers."
For India, while the results came consistently, not all of the team's ploys and team changes worked; putting a question mark on certain individuals who might be filtered out by the selectors near the World Cup down under.
"They were trying out different players in this series (and home season). Tried Shivam Dube, and Manish Pandey, who were playing slightly different roles, and I think they have found enough about those players."
"Of course if you have the ability to bring in Hardik Pandya (currently injured) towards the backend, that gives an extra dimension," Hesson concluded.
(Inputs from PTI)
