Dhoni expects batsmen to do well, Vettori plans to upset India

Even as Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni expects bat to dominate the ball in the second Test match against New Zealand to begin on Friday in the city, his opposite number Daniel Vettori plans to go for an outright win.

Talking to media persons at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Uppal, where the two teams will lock horns, Dhoni stated that he has found the pitch to be on the flat side with some bounce. He said that this would enable batsmen to score freely during batting.   

Hyderabad will be hosting a Test after a gap of 22 years.

In fact, Dhoni hoped the wicket at the new Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, which is hosting its first Test, would give the bowlers a fair chance after a placid one in Ahmedabad.

The first Test of the three-match series ended in a draw at Ahmedabad, where India relied upon a second-innings century from bowler Harbhajan Singh to escape from an upset.

The third and final Test will be played in Nagpur from November 20 to 24 followed by five one-day internationals beginning from November 28.

Meanwhile, New Zealand team captain Daniel Vettori said “We don’t know about the pitch in the stadium as this is the first time we will be playing in Hyderabad. After understanding pitch condition in the Ahmedabad Test, we have started practicing early in Hyderabad.”

 He hoped that his team will tackle Indian team effectively in Hyderabad and win the Test match. "We have to not just maintain but improve on our performance in the first Test. There are still some guys who need to pick themselves up," Vettori said.

"In the first Test Chris Martin came in and gave us a great chance and then India fought back with Harbhajan’s ton," he added. Vettori said playing on flat tracks has helped Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men transform into a bunch of world-beaters.

"What India has done is to prepare flat wickets and that has helped the team play better and become more competitive all round the world," Vettori said. "It's always a big challenge to take 20 wickets against the formidable India line-up," the Kiwi captain said.

Asked about the positives that the Kiwis took from the Ahmedabad Test, Vettori said the focus is now firmly on the upcoming match. "One Test match doesn't really matter and we will be judged on the basis of our performance here," he said.

Asked about the composition and the wicket Vettori said, "It looks a little bit flat but we are hoping it would offer some assistance to the bowlers. It will offer some pace I think. We will have another look and then see the combination," he said.

Asked about the team's chances in the second Test, Vettori said, "We are trying to win a game and that is the reason we are here."