New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner anticipates challenge from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in upcoming ODI series

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner expects tough competition from Indian stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The upcoming five-match ODI series will serve as crucial preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Santner believes New Zealand's home conditions will test India's new-look Test squad. He also highlighted the depth of India's balanced Test bowling attack. Matches against India remain significant for World Test Championship points.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner expects India’s ODI stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to pose a major challenge when the teams meet in a five-match series later this year, while hoping the experienced batters do not again find the conditions in their favour.

Kohli and Rohit, who now play only ODI cricket, are set to return to action during India’s tour of New Zealand in October-November. The tour will feature five ODIs, five T20Is and two Tests.

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"It is going to be a challenge. They are still very good players as we have seen for a long time; masters of the ODI game. They have taken a liking to some New Zealand pitches in the past. Hopefully, not this time around," Santner told PTI in an exclusive interview.

The five-match ODI series will also serve as part of the preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with both teams expected to assess their combinations ahead of the tournament.

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"It is going to be a great series, no doubt. It is all a lead-up for the World Cup next year in ODIs. Everyone is trying to figure out their best team; what that might look like for October next year with limited games."

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Santner said New Zealand’s immediate target would be to win the ODI series at home against India before turning its focus towards the World Cup.

"We've got five (matches) against India, three against Sri Lanka at home and then it is World Cup prep in England (in September 2027), right before the World Cup," he said.

"(But) first things first, you want to win a series against India at home, which would be an awesome thing. Then it is (about) trying to find what the make-up might look like come October next year," Santner added.

India and New Zealand will also play two Tests during the tour. The teams last met in a Test series in India in 2024, when New Zealand secured a 3-0 victory. The result ended India’s unbeaten home run in Test series that had lasted more than 12 years and 18 series.

Santner, who played a key role in that series with figures of 7/53 and 6/104 in the second Test in Pune, believes New Zealand’s conditions could test India’s new-look Test squad.

"I think what we spoke about before is trying to adapt quickly," Santner said, recalling the previous tour.

"For a new-look India side, it is probably going to be the first time some players have been playing red-ball (cricket) in New Zealand, where the pitches will be a little bit foreign. They will probably do a bit more than they might do back home."

Santner, however, said India still have a balanced Test squad and highlighted the depth in their bowling attack.

"If you look at their squad, it is a very well-rounded squad. You throw (Jasprit) Bumrah back into the bowling attack, you have got (Mohammed) Siraj, (Prasidh) Krishna with the bounce. You have got (Ravindra) Jadeja and (Manav) Suthar to bowl spin. You have got probably a fourth seamer in there as well."

"It is shaping up nicely. I think it is going to be a great series. Traditionally, it can do a little bit in New Zealand at that time of the year," Santner said.

The New Zealand captain expects the two-Test series to offer a different challenge, with batters potentially needing to adjust their approach to conditions that can assist seam bowling.

"It could be trying to fight fire with fire, playing your shots. There might be times we need to sit back and let the bowlers go for a bit, try to get the shine off the ball. There is a lot that can go on in the Test matches in New Zealand. It is going to be an exciting series and one that we can't wait for."

Santner also pointed to the commercial and scheduling considerations behind the two-Test series.

"For a long time, New Zealand played two-match series. There’s obviously the money side of it as well."

"I know it costs a lot to play Test cricket. (It is about) timing as well; white-ball brings in the crowds in New Zealand, it brings the money. That's why I guess it is the 10-2 split."

Despite the shorter Test series, Santner said matches against India remain significant for New Zealand, particularly with World Test Championship points at stake.

"Whenever India come, even if it is only two Test matches, it is going to be exciting. Everyone wants to challenge themselves against the best in the world and they are up there. For us, it is going to be an important series like it is for India with the (World Test Championship) points that are on offer."

New Zealand will then travel to Australia for a four-Test series, making the upcoming India tour an important part of its red-ball schedule.

"We go straight to Australia from there to play four Tests. It is an exciting time for red-ball (cricket). If that all goes well, we could put ourselves in a pretty good position."

Before the Test matches, however, New Zealand will face India in 10 white-ball games across ODIs and T20Is.

"First things first is ten pretty big white-ball games against India; two very good sides in ODIs and T20Is. We have to (then) shift pretty quickly to two Test matches."