As India prepares for the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand, former wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel is confident in the team's ability to defeat any side in the world.
India, led by captain Rohit Sharma, is currently the top-ranked Test team and is coming off a convincing 2-0 series win over Bangladesh. The first Test against New Zealand is set to take place in Bengaluru on October 16, followed by matches in Pune and Mumbai.
Patel, reflecting on India's form, believes the team no longer requires specific conditions, such as seaming or spinning pitches, to secure victories. He emphasized that the current squad has the depth and talent to perform well on any surface.
"I don't think India needs specific pitches to win. This team is strong enough to beat any side in the world right now. While they might look for strong performances from Rohit Sharma and give opportunities to players like Axar Patel, India will be well-equipped to handle New Zealand," Patel said in an interview with JioCinema.
However, Patel did warn that India's batters could face a tough challenge from New Zealand's left-arm spin duo of Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel, who have caused issues for Indian batsmen in the past.
With the World Test Championship (WTC) in mind, Patel expects India to aim for a 3-0 series victory, but acknowledged that the biggest challenge could come from New Zealand's spin attack.
Meanwhile, former selector and ex-keeper Saba Karim echoed Patel's sentiments, urging India to remain focused on the New Zealand series and not get distracted by the upcoming five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia later this year.
"India needs to focus on the present and build on the positives from recent home series, especially with young pace bowlers emerging," said Karim. He highlighted the contributions of Akash Deep and emphasized the importance of selecting the right combination of spinners and pace bowlers for the series.
Karim also noted the addition of four traveling reserves - Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mayank Yadav, and Prasidh Krishna - for the series against New Zealand. He sees this as a sign that the Indian team management is already planning ahead for the Australia tour.
However, he cautioned against underestimating New Zealand, pointing out that despite a recent 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka, the Kiwis remain a competitive side.
"New Zealand has an inner strength and has previously managed to draw a game in India. India will have to work hard to ensure they come out on top," Karim concluded.