Young New Zealand pace attack is one to watch

Following his unbeaten 48, a knock amongst some gritty others that gave India the series 2-0, Dhoni would go on to say of the pitch that he “was expecting Bangalore, but it was like Napier.” It perhaps was. Not just for the cold, windy and swingy conditions on a turfy pitch, but also because the Kiwis, led by Ross Taylor, often played like they were at home. In their own backyard. And for that Taylor should thank a set of young quicks who are bound to terrorise world cricket, sooner rather than later.

Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell and Trent Boult are not household names yet. But they will be — as they accumulate the experience that comes with playing a little more than a cumulative sum of 36 Tests. In the absence of Daniel Vettori, the very soul of NZ cricket and a man with 112 Tests (roughly amounting to three times the amount of the pace attack in Bangalore put together), the bright-eyed kids held their own.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s contribution of 73, 62 and 48 not out in India’s season-opening Test series win over New Zealand didn’t have the glow of the cheerful tons that Virat Kohli or Cheteshwar Pujara hit but his innings did have the worth, weight, and also significance ... Legends of the game say that it is the runs and wickets, more than the match result, that make a captain stronger and his authority unquestioned. Dhoni’s cocky walk to the pavilion after hitting the winning six at Bangalore left little doubt about who was in-charge.

When you lose players like Dravid and Laxman, you are losing men who can handle pressure. It's not just technique and ability that needs to be replaced but temperament, which is even more critical in important games. Virat seems to possess that quality. Good players understand that more the difficult and challenging the circumstance, bigger the opportunity to shine. The ability to concentrate and avoid the thought of victory or failure is a difficult discipline to master.