However, India's form away from home has been shocking and despite an improved show in South Africa, the hosts should win both Tests and ODIs if they prepare green tops, feels former skipper and legendary batsman Martin Crowe.
India could struggle again as they are touring New Zealand for the first time since early 2009 and have just three players, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and fast bowlers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, who played in that series. Crowe feels the hosts can capitalise on that.
"New Zealand should focus their preparation on exposing a whole line-up that has never before batted in these conditions," said Crowe. "Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner (or Adam Milne as back up) are the men to target India's top six.
They are confident, fit and work well together. Most importantly, they can produce a significant amount of swing to trouble any top player early in his innings," he added.
Crowe also insisted that New Zealand must play to their strength and focus on making green tops. "The pitches should be green and hold moisture. This environment has been missing recently.
Hadlee and Co, from the glorious past, didn't bowl on featherbeds; they gained assistance off the seam as well as through the air.
With respect to an Indian attack that is ageing a little with Zaheer back in, local groundsmen should be watering freely, just as the ones in India remove life from their pitches," Crowe wrote in his column on a cricket website.
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