Blackcaps v India: Former NZ spinner Jeetan Patel offers secret to success on subcontinent dustbowls

The Blackcaps are bracing for a tricky turning wickets in the upcoming two-test series against India.

The hosts are a dominant force at home and showed their class earlier this year, walloping England 3-1.

Blackcaps spinner Ajaz Patel's slowly getting used to the foreign conditions which await him.

"India's India, mate," says the Mumbai native. 

Just ask the English. Joe Root's side were trounced in the four-match series, despite winning the first test. That was largely down to the unpredictable dustbowls.

Former NZ off-spinner Jeetan Patel was on England's coaching staff for that tour, where spinners took almost 75 percent of the 140 wickets.

"They just produced some really extreme wickets," he tells Newshub. "Now look, they have that right."

And India are expected to use that right again, which means Ajaz Patel and Will Somerville will need to play massive roles for the Blackcaps in the upcoming series.

"They've gotta trust themselves, that's the first thing... trust their skill," insists Jetan Patel, who believes there's a way to beat India.

"For us, the plan was to try bringing the stumps into play all the time, so whether we're threatening the stumps with line and spinning away from, or spinning into the stumps, it's making sure we're hitting the stumps the whole time."

And stay patient.

"You want to toss it up out wide and do guys through the gate, and all of the pretty stuff, but the reality is, mate, that's dreamboat stuff," says Jetan Patel. "You've got to earn that right."

If they do, the Blackcaps could end up with a series sweep of their own.

Join us at 5pm Thursday for live updates of the first test between New Zealand and India