Spin great Ravichandran Ashwin says New Zealand, despite the absence of the long-serving pace duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, who have quit playing the 50-over format, will pose a challenge to India.
The 33-year-old, who has played 70 Tests and 137 limited overs internationals since 2011, will continue to play for his country but have a "significantly reduced role", NZC said.
Trent Boult has not given up hope of playing Test cricket again despite declining a central contract with New Zealand Cricket.
The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is likely to see bowlers playing a crucial role in the success of teams.
Experienced pacers Tim Southee and Trent Boult's absence leaves a "massive hole" in the New Zealand squad, but also provides a chance to fringe players to step up during the India tour, says stand-in-captain Tom Latham.
Krishna had superb figures of 2/2 in three overs, including a maiden, while Boult took 1/8 in three overs, to leave Sunrisers reeling on 14/3 in six overs -- the joint lowest score in the Powerplay in IPL history.
Seamers Ben Sears, Nathan Smith and Will O'Rourke will play their first global tournament at the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates next month after being named in the New Zealand squad on Sunday.
Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner, Rachin Ravindra and Hamish Rutherford were released from the initial 20 player squad.
MI staged a coup on Day 1, by winning the bid for Trent Boult, bringing him back into the fold.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League matches played in Guwahati on Saturday.
All about IPL 2025 which kicks off on March 22, Saturday.
Trent Boult (3 for 28) and Rahul Chahar (3 for 19) helped Mumbai Indians win and go atop the IPL 2021 points table.
The IPL 2025 auction was a spectacle of astronomical bids and shattered records.
The duo shared six scalps among them -- the impact of their performance saw Delhi unable to make any headway into the match.
Trent Boult was Mumbai Indians's hero with the ball in the IPL final against his former team Delhi Capitals, with a match-winning spell of 3-30.
Pace spearhead Trent Boult has been omitted from the white-ball squad a few months after being released from his national contract.
'My message to all the young guns who are joining Mumbai Indians this year is that if you are here, you have that spark, you have that talent, which the scouts have seen.'
India's pace talisman Jasprit Bumrah's absence will certainly hurt India, but the team's quality batting and spin bowling make them title contenders alongside South Africa and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.
Trent Boult finished with IPL career-best 4-18 in his four overs, including a maiden, while Jasprit Bumrah took 2-25 as CSK finished on a lowly 114-9 in their 20 overs.
Talking about carrying the momentum or starting again in the knockout stage, Boult said, 'For me, it is starting again. We are against some classy opposition coming to the business end of the tournament.'
The ICC Champions Trophy is set to kick off in Pakistan, marking the country's first ICC event since the 1996 World Cup.
Trent Boult took an IPL career-best 4/18 to consign Chennai Super Kings to their first-ever 10-wicket defeat in the T20 league.
New Zealand thrashed Bangladesh by eight wickets in the first ODI on Saturday.
India T20I skipper Rohit Sharma has said that playing alongside Trent Boult for Mumbai Indians has helped both of them know each other's weaknesses and strengths and as a result, it is always a good battle when they play for their national teams.
Trent Boult, who has played 73 Test for New Zealand, said he expects a bit of banter between the rival players since they are all familiar with each other due to the Indian Premier League.
Trent Boult has seen how Shaheen Afridi swung the ball to wreck India's top order at the Twenty20 World Cup and the New Zealand pace spearhead is plotting something similar in Sunday's crucial contest against Virat Kohli's men.
Trent Boult revealed his gameplan against Kohli after third day's play
New Zealand bowler and Mumbai Indians pace spearhead Trent Boult said he would love to play in the remaining matches of Indian Premier League, which is scheduled to be held in the UAE later this year.
India's batters will be relieved that Trent Boult will not be a part of the upcoming two-Test series as the Black Caps' senior pacer feels that he needs to refresh and rejuvenate after 12 weeks of continuous cricket.
Tim Southee, once half of the most feared new-ball partnership in the game, brought down the curtain on a glittering 16-year Test career after New Zealand crushed England for a consolation win in Hamilton on Tuesday.
Wriddhiman Saha will retire from cricket at the end of this year's Ranji Trophy.
'His elbow is still niggling him a wee bit'
Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme made themselves unavailable for selection due to the prospect of further time in bio-secure bubbles and Managed Isolation.
Trent Boult said he expects the green top at the Hagley Oval to be more conducive for his brand of swing bowling compared to the Basin Reserve track
Images from the T20 World Cup Super 12 match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, at Sydney Cricket Ground, in Sydney, on Saturday.
Returning from injury, Sandeep Sharma shone with the ball for hosts Rajasthan Royals.
MI's middle-order hasn't fired yet and Boult said the batsmen wouldn't be too pleased about it.
Bumrah finished with figures of 4 for 14 as Delhi crumbled under his accurate spell. But it was Boult who put Mumbai Indians early in the driver's seat with the early double strike.
The 29-year-old also revealed he shares a good bond with the Royals skipper Sanju Samson.
Set to lead four-time champions Mumbai Indians' bowling attack in absence of Lasith Malinga, Kiwi left-arm pacer Trent Boult believes the biggest challenge for all the teams during the forthcoming Indian Premier League will be to adjust to the hot and humid conditions in the UAE.
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