Having welcomed the first rays of warmth at the start of the southern hemisphere summer on Thursday, ‘Windy Welly’ lapsed back into form on Friday, a day before India’s second ODI against New Zealand. Dark and depressingly gloomy for the most part, the weather forced the cancellation of India’s practice session at Basin Reserve, the designated Test venue, though Saturday’s game will be played at the multi-purpose Hnry Stadium, some 3.2 kilometres away.

India’s first win in five ODIs on New Zealand soil was achieved with little fuss in Auckland on Wednesday night. Set up by the intelligence and incisiveness of a pace group with limited exposure to the global 50-over stage, India’s five-wicket victory in a match interrupted by rain was formalised by a whirlwind 74 from Virat Kohli, who gifted himself a 38th birthday present a day early.