New Zealand coach Ashley Ross sounded a warning to the Indians on Tuesday, saying his team has been pulling off historic wins of late and is capable of doing so on Indian soil also.
"We did well in England and West Indies. The Sri Lanka tour earlier this year shows that we are performing better in Asia. This team has been making history. Though we have never won in India, my boys may make history once again," Ross, who is standing-in for John Bracewell for the current tour, told newspersons in Visakhapatnam.
Exuding confidence that his team will perform well in India, Ross said the Black Caps have prepared well ahead of the tour, and all the players are fit and raring to go.
"Back in New Zealand, cricket is the second most popular game after rugby. But here in India, it is the most popular sport. Naturally, we ar very excited," the coach said.
"We prepared very well keeping in mind the Indian conditions and its celebrated spin attack. I am very satisfied with the tune-up, and that makes me hopeful," he said after the tourists' first net session in India this afternoon.
Asked how the tourists are acclimatising to Indian conditions, Ross said, "This is cricket. We have to feel at home under every condition.
However, he expressed happiness with the weather as also the arrangements in the steel city.
"The weather is beautiful. My boys are all enjoying themselves. I also have no case for complaint about the arrangements. The hospitality extended to us is wonderful," he said.
Ross, on his maiden stint as Kiwi coach, also praised the wicket at the newly-built APCA-VDCA stadium, the venue of his team's tour lung-opener against the Board President's XI from September 26 to 28.
"I'm very impressed with the wicket. It looks terrific. I think it will have bounce. It will assist pacers and take a little bit of spin too," he said.
On the Virender Sehwag-led Board President's XI, which has players of the calibre of V V S Laxman and Yuvraj Singh, Ross said, "Yes, it looks a very strong team."
Ross said the team management is yet to take a decision on whether to play both spinners, Daniel Vettori and Paul Wiseman, in the first match. "We still have a couple of days on hand."
To another query whether he thinks the Kiwis will start as underdogs in both the Tests and tri-series, which has Australia as the third team, Ross said jokingly, "I hope so."
But having decimated India on seamer-friendly tracks last year, Ross hoped that the wickets in the Tests and one-dayers would not be made to assist only the Indian spinners.
"I hope they also have some bounce. Because that will help India's preparations for the coming tour to Australa, where the wickets will be very fast and bouncy," he added.
