'Tough place to come': New Zealand captain Tim Southee disappointed after historic defeat to Sri Lanka, sends message to teammates for India tour

New Zealand Test captain Tim Southee was left disappointed after his team’s defeat by an innings and 154 runs to Sri Lanka in the second Test at Galle International Stadium. Southee admitted that Sri Lanka is a tough place to tour as New Zealand suffered their first series defeat to them since 2009.
 

“Very tough, on the wrong side of a tough one. But this is a tough place to come. I think in this match it was a lot harder, but in the first game we could have pushed on a bit harder.,” Southee said in the post-match presentation on September 29.
 

New Zealand slumped to seventh position on the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 standings with their fifth loss from eight games. Their next Test series will be against India starting on October 16 at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. India have not lost a Test series at home for over a decade.
 

“Need to go home, regroup and go again. India is very similar to this part of the world,” the Kiwi pacer added.
 

Southee’s disappointing numbers in Test series against Sri Lanka

Southee was lacklustre with the ball. He managed to take just two wickets from two Tests. Often handy with the bat down the order, he scored just 17 runs from four innings.

 

ALSO READ: 'It was a slow process. BCCI didn't want to take any risk': Mayank Yadav's coach credits NCA head VVS Laxman for express pacer's recovery and maiden T20I call-up
 

Where do New Zealand stand on WTC points table?

In the current WTC cycle, New Zealand have a three-Test series against India followed by a three-Test series against England at home. The winners of the inaugural edition of WTC face an uphill task to qualify for their second final. 

 

ALSO READ: 'I could still play the format but there are many....': Rohit Sharma opens up on T20I retirement nearly 3 months after T20 World Cup 2024 triumph
 

New Zealand’s Test record in India

New Zealand have never won a Test series on Indian soil. The last time New Zealand toured India was in 2021. India won the two-Test series 1-0 as New Zealand managed to draw the Kanpur Test with just one wicket in hand. Later, New Zealand lost the Test at Wankhede Stadium despite left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel’s 10-wicket haul. 
 

The last time New Zealand won a Test against India was in 1988. New Zealand beat Dilip Vengsarkar-led India by 136 runs.
 

MORE ON SPORTS TAK: 

MI Emirates batting coach Ajay Jadeja feels Mumbai Indians will use RTM card for Hardik Pandya, names 3 players who will be impossible to get if not retained

How India vs Bangladesh T20I series will make these 3 IPL franchises lose out on crores and mess up with their retention plans