Napier, March 25:

India look poised to break a 40-year Test series drought in New Zealand with room to spare when the second match gets under way here on Thursday.

India lead the three-match series 1-0 and are overwhelming favourites after demoralising the Black Caps with their 10-wicket victory in Hamilton. As if their dominance at the wicket wasn’t enough, India also have a fully fit squad while New Zealand are struggling with injuries and form. “We don’t think too much about what they’re doing because, frankly speaking, it’s about us, what we want to achieve,” said captain Mahendra Singh Donhi. “How we’re preparing ourselves that will have a bigger impact on the game rather than thinking about what the opposition is doing.”

Until Hamilton, India had not even won a Test in New Zealand for 33 years and they are now keen to end their even longer wait for a series victory here.