New Zealand captain Tom Latham said his previous experience as stand-in skipper will be crucial when they face India in a daunting three-Test series starting Wednesday. The visitors were last month whitewashed 2-0 in Sri Lanka, after which Tim Southee handed the reins to 32-year-old Latham.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's obviously a huge, exciting privilege for me to be in this position," said Latham, who has led New Zealand in nine Tests as stand-in skipper.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I'm lucky that I've been in this position before, have captained here in India before, and have done it back home as well."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He stepped in as captain for Kane Williamson in the second Test during New Zealand's previous tour to India in 2021.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The match at Mumbai's Wankhede is remembered for New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel's 10 wickets in an innings -- only the third time that had happened in Test cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We're looking forward to the challenge," Latham said on the eve of the first Test in Bengaluru.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Hopefully we can lean back on the experiences that we've had here, the last couple of times that we've toured."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
New Zealand have won just two Tests in India in 36 outings, in 1969 at Nagpur and in 1988 at Mumbai.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Whether I'm captain or non-captain, I'm always trying to perform my role as best as I can for the team," said Latham.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
New Zealand fast bowler Ben Sears has been ruled out of the three Tests due to a knee injury, with uncapped Jacob Duffy coming in as replacement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n