{
  "id": 15941187,
  "title": "Team India must quickly adjust to unfamiliar in NZ",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/team-india-must-quickly-adjust-to-unfamiliar-in-nz",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-21T18:52:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/cricket/sleep-deprived-battle-ready-short-on-sleep-india-must-quickly-adjust-to-unfamiliar-conditions-in-new-zealand/articleshow/135099395.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indian cricket's biggest hurdle currently is sleep deprivation, according to reports. The team recently arrived in New Zealand after traversing vast distances, and they were granted just one day for practice prior to the first of five T20 matches. A significant portion of the squad has never faced New Zealand before, and they can recall their childhood days watching Indian batsmen grapple with accurate seamers on damp pitches, as well as the challenges posed by the prevailing winds and unique open cricket grounds.\n\nShreyas Iyer, the captain, remains optimistic when questioned about the primary challenge. \"There is no challenge right now,\" he stated, focusing on the internal factors rather than the external ones. The team has been playing extensively since their journey from Japan to India and then to New Zealand. Consequently, they are experiencing less sleep, but Iyer believes that the increased match frequency is beneficial for the team.\n\nThe initial two matches are scheduled to take place in Christchurch, followed by Wellington, Auckland, and Hamilton. While the Indians won't have to endure another long flight, the primary concern lies in facing a near full-strength home team. New Zealand managed to secure both Test and ODI series victories during their previous tour of India. This time, they will be eager to probe India's formidable T20 lineup.\n\nIndia's recent series against West Indies was relatively straightforward, with the bowlers not playing a significant role, and tall scores being chased down by both teams. However, this will not be the case in New Zealand. The balance between bat and ball will test all facets of a team's game, particularly in the early overs. The quick bowlers will initially take control, followed by the slow bowlers as the pitch wears down. Batsmen will need well-thought-out strategies to set realistic targets or pace their chases.\n\nIndia boasts exceptional batting depth, meaning players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi cannot simply be inserted into the playing XI. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, the primary batsmen, will need to adapt to various conditions, and their performances will set the tone for the subsequent batters. Shreyas Iyer will utilize this series to mould the team according to his vision while also acknowledging that he will have to showcase his skills as a middle-order batsman, a role he is accustomed to at home. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who returns to the T20I team after a near four-year hiatus, will have an opportunity to excel due to the swing offered by the conditions, after facing a challenging period in his career.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}