'Condition in New Zealand is Challenging'

Mumbai, Dec 27: India U-19 coach Rahul Dravid on Wednesday asserted that the conditions in New Zealand will pose the biggest challenge to his wards when the U-19 World Cup starts next month. “The conditions would provide unique challenge in that no one in the team has played in New Zealand before. The key would be in adapting to the conditions well,” Dravid said at the pre-departure press conference here. “We have tried to replicate the conditions in the Bangalore camp to the extent possible. But it’s not possible to do it completely,” he added. With the U-19 World Cup starting on January 13 in New Zealand, Dravid asserted that the presence of several players with experience of first class cricket among the Indian colts will stand them in good stead. “It’s always good to have players in team with some first class cricket experience. This team too has a few,” the former star batsman said.  (IANS)