Ravichandran Ashwin has once again underlined why he is regarded as one of the sharpest cricketing minds in the modern game, this time by showering praise on New Zealand’s meticulous planning and execution. Ahead of the second ODI between India and New Zealand, the former India all-rounder admitted he is so intrigued by the Black Caps’ analytical approach that he would gladly pay to sit in on their team meetings.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said New Zealand operate very differently from most elite sides, especially in how deeply they rely on data, match-ups, and scenario-based preparation. Even after India’s win in the first ODI, he felt the Kiwis, despite missing a few star names, pushed the hosts by sticking rigidly to their plans.

“A lot of top teams are not very analytically driven, but New Zealand are,” Ravichandran Ashwin remarked. “I would honestly pay money just to be part of their meetings and see how they prepare. The way they execute their plans on the field shows how well they think through situations.”

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Ravichandran Ashwin also highlighted the mental toughness that defines New Zealand cricket. According to him, the visitors never drifted out of the contest, which kept India under pressure for long periods despite not having the strongest squad on paper.

“They don’t always have the best man-to-man strength, but their discipline, fielding standards and clarity in execution make them extremely competitive. They keep coming back into games because they never stop believing in their process,” he explained.

While India eventually clinched the opening ODI, Ashwin was honest enough to admit that the Black Caps arguably looked the more cohesive side for most of the match. He felt India had moments of brilliance — particularly from young pacer Harshit Rana with both bat and ball — but lacked overall consistency.

“The most impressive team for me was New Zealand. India didn’t quite play their best cricket, even though they won,” Ravichandran Ashwin concluded.

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The focus now shifts to the second ODI of the three-match series, which will be played on January 14 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, where both sides will look to raise their level in what has already become a closely contested series.