SportsPosted at: Nov 9 2026 7:02PM


Ronchi urges New Zealand batters to adapt as India's young pacers call the shots

New Delhi, Nov 9 (UNI) A change in batting approach may be the biggest challenge for New Zealand as they look to recover from back-to-back defeats against India, with batting coach Luke Ronchi urging his players to remain patient on surfaces offering considerable assistance to fast bowlers.

New Zealand have been bowled out for 185 and 134 in the first two ODIs, with India's relatively inexperienced pace attack making the most of the conditions. Arshdeep Singh, Auqib Nabi, Anshul Kamboj and Gurnoor Brar have shared 17 of the 20 New Zealand wickets to fall in Auckland and Wellington, leaving Ronchi impressed with the way the young bowlers have adapted to conditions.

Ronchi believes the ability to find the right line and length on helpful surfaces, after spending much of their time bowling on flatter pitches in the subcontinent, has been particularly encouraging.

“They are so used to bowling on flat wickets, it's realising what is the right length, what's the right line, the ball is swinging a bit (and) how do we bowl the way we want to bowl to make it hard for the batters.

"They've done that really well and they've challenged our batters and taken wickets early and made different impacts in different games, so it's exciting to see when you see younger guys come into the game and perform and try and push their case to be playing more and more and more,” Ronchi said.

The former New Zealand wicketkeeper also praised the Indian attack for making the most of conditions that have given bowlers a significant advantage.
“Yeah, they've been really good. They're asking questions of batters and it'll be quite cool for them. They're going into games where the ball isn't flying around, the ball is actually assisting them and then they'll be happy with that,” he said.

With the two-Test series beginning on November 19, Ronchi felt the challenging surfaces in the ODI series could also prove useful preparation for both teams.
He pointed out that the Wellington pitch, in particular, offered conditions closer to what players can expect in Test cricket.
“Technically, yeah, they will (prepare better) because that's traditionally what we have here for Test cricket, it's a lot greener surfaces," Ronchi told reporters on the eve of the third ODI.

“In reality, that Wellington surface was more of a Test type of surface, so it's grasping hold of that and realising that, and it will help both teams."

Ronchi was also reluctant to view the low scores as a concern, arguing that batters need to adjust their expectations rather than chase traditional one-day scoring rates when conditions favour the bowlers.

“At the moment, it's quite cool; the bowlers have actually got the upper hand, so there's nothing wrong with that. Traditionally, you go around the world, especially in India if teams don't make 400 you're in trouble, so it's just ridiculous.

“The bowlers have an opportunity to get some (helpful) conditions but you still have to bowl well on it. Both teams have been doing that, that's a cool thing to see."

He said batters must recognise when a modest scoring rate is enough to keep their side in the contest, instead of taking unnecessary risks in search of quick runs.

“I think both teams have realised that the surfaces probably aren't your traditional one-day wickets, the scoring was higher in the T20s which is it, but these have just been a bit more challenging and it's understanding what a par score might be and what each person does to try and help the team in that space," Ronchi said.
“The other night, if either team had made 200 batting first, that would have been a massive score, so it's realising that okay, for 10 overs you might be going at two, three (runs) an over, you're actually still going okay."

“It's just trying to stay calm and realise the adaptability of what you need to do in those moments, but they're always continuing conversations because again, tomorrow it might be an amazing wicket and then again, we go to Mount Maunganui, it's a different wicket again," he added.

Ronchi also backed Tim Seifert to find his feet in the 50-over format, acknowledging that the opener's limited recent exposure to longer white-ball cricket has made the transition more challenging.

“He hasn't played anything other than T20 cricket for probably two years now so there's just that that tactical challenge, and again the surfaces haven't been (favourable),” Ronchi said.
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