Former Indian fielding coach R Sridhar has shed light on key challenges which the Indian fielders would face on the New Zealand tour. Sridhar said it is going to be really cold in New Zealand and the Indian fielders will have their work cut out.

India has struggled a bit in the field in the recent past and the players will definitely look to lift their game on the crucial tour. Team India has mostly played in hot and humid conditions in the subcontinent conditions in the last one year and thus it is going to be different challenge for the Indian players.

“It’s going to get really cold in New Zealand in the night games, so that is something they really have to deal with. Once it gets cold and you are fielding second, you’re going to see more hands in pockets than out of the pockets. That’s something the Indians have to adapt. Unfortunately, you cannot simulate that in India. You will only get the conditions once you go to New Zealand,” R Sridhar said in a select media interaction organised by Sony Sports Network.

“The temperature is going to be cold, so you have got to work with a variety of balls, or you have got to work with a different light setup. It’s going to be different in New Zealand, in terms of conditions, obviously, and our players have played enough, I guess. Some of them are travelling for the first time, so they will adapt,” he added.

Sridhar said the Indian players should practice high catching and it should not be a problem for them.

“The quickest thing for our fielding coach to do would be to get them a lot of practice under the high ball, which could be a little challenging on certain grounds in New Zealand. New Zealand is not as bright as Australia, so that’s not much of a worry,” Sridhar concluded.

India will play five ODIs, as many T20Is, and two Test matches on the New Zealand tour.