Indian flair versus Kiwi resilience

Colombo
Sept. 10: It’s a series that is as fortuitous as they come. What was supposed to be a bilateral series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka was changed into a tri-series with India as the third team. And the reward at stake for Team India is huge.
After a two-month break, when Dhoni and Co. take on New Zealand in the second match of the tri-series, they will be in with a chance to create history. Having set off on a stupendous run in limited overs cricket over the last one year, the Men in Blue are within striking range of top-ranked South Africa in the ICC ODI rankings and a win in all the three matches (including the final) in this tri-series will put them on top.
“It is only an incentive. But our first priority is to do well and win the series. If we do well consistently we will be number one. So, we are taking it as the first tournament of the season,” said Dhoni on the eve of their tri-series opener against the Kiwis. With the return of Rahul Dravid, Dhoni said that he would move down the order. “Rahul is an ideal batsman at No. 3. Under lights if the ball is moving he is the right person. There may be a change according to the situations, but in normal conditions Rahul will be batting at No. 3.”
The Indian skipper also agreed that the team batting first at the Premadasa stadium always had an advantage. “If I win the toss I would like to bat first. The toss has been crucial and if you bat first, disregard of the score, you have always been able to defend it. It starts to turn under the lights, as we have seen during the past series,” he said.