India pacers working well as unit, each bowler does something different: Tim Seifert

Tim Seifert said the New Zealand’s attention is also on the bigger picture, with the World Cup on the horizon next year. | Photo Credit: AP

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert on Thursday heaped praise on India’s young pace attack that has troubled his team, saying that the visiting bowlers work quite well as a unit despite being inherently different from each other.

Left-armer Arshdeep Singh, and the relatively less experienced trio of Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar and Auqib Nabi have maintained disciplined lines on challenging surfaces to dismiss New Zealand for 185 and 134 in the first two ODIs before the third game was washed out. India leads the series 2-0.

“To be honest, they all bowl very well, they all do something slightly different,” Seifert said ahead of the fourth ODI here on Friday.

“Having Arshdeep as a left-hander, I think it’s crucial as well. But to be honest, they work well as a unit, they all do something different, but to their credit, they didn’t miss much on those wickets (in) the last two games. I think they do a very good job together.”

The 33-year-old Seifert also credited them for adjusting to New Zealand’s conditions, despite their relative lack of international experience.

“Look, we’re playing international cricket, it doesn’t necessarily matter who you play, you play Australia, England, they got all those kind of bowlers as well. So, I think to their credit, they’ve come to New Zealand and adapted to these wickets and hats off to them.

“But look, it’s not just calling them out, they bowl very well and no matter who you play in international cricket, you’ve got to adapt to the wicket and the players that you play,” he said.

India will be without regular skipper Shubman Gill and KL Rahul in the last two ODIs with Shreyas Iyer, India’s T20I captain, leading the ODI side for the first time. Gill and Rahul will link up with the Test squad to prepare for the series beginning November 19.

However, Seifert dismissed suggestions that their absence hands New Zealand any particular advantage.

“Oh, look, no matter who India play or whoever we play as well, we’re out there for the challenge, and everyone’s an international cricketer out there.

“So, yeah, whoever steps into their role, they’re going to try their best, same with us, whoever steps into the role that the boys have left, everyone’s going to try their best as well,” he said referring to some changes in the home side due to Test preparations.

New Zealand will have Finn Allen, Mitch Hay, Dean Foxcroft, Nick Kelly and Brett Randell coming in for the last two ODIs as Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith and Henry Nicholls have joined New Zealand’s Test training camp in Wellington.

Seifert said the team’s attention is also on the bigger picture, with the World Cup on the horizon next year.

“We always look to try and go out there and win every game. Don’t get me wrong, you want to look to win every series, but the big picture is obviously the World Cup coming up as well, so it’s about, learning, gelling as a team, and there’s obviously a few changes as well, so it’s giving those guys the opportunity,” Seifert said.

Asked about the mood in the camp, Seifert said, “...obviously the result hasn’t necessarily gone our way, but we’ve obviously been put in some tricky situations with the wickets as well. So, look, it’s a new bunch of guys here, a few guys have left, a new group, so yeah, we’re just focusing on the next two games ahead.”

Seifert said he was enjoying the challenge of adapting to a new role at the top of the order.

“Yeah, I’ve enjoyed it. It’s been a while, also opening the batting for the first time. All my other games have been in the middle order, so it’s been a new role, which I’ve enjoyed and hopefully we can win a toss or have a good wicket,” he said.

Published on Nov 12, 2026

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