India seek response in Christchurch friendly after 0-5 opening defeat

India and New Zealand meet in Christchurch on Sunday, November 15 in the second match of their international friendly series, with India aiming to recover from a 0-5 loss in the opening fixture. Head coach Khalid Jamil will be looking for an improved performance from his side.

India conceded five goals and failed to score in the series opener, falling 0-5 to the All Whites; Jesse Randall, Chris Wood and Lachlan Bayliss were among the scorers. The Blue Tigers struggled in the first encounter and Jamil has said he wants a better response in the rematch. India will be determined to show signs of improvement when the teams meet again in Christchurch on Sunday.

"It was a very disappointing result for us. The boys were devastated after the game. We came here wanting to put in a good performance, but New Zealand were strong and punished our mistakes. We have to take responsibility as a team. We know we can do better, and we have to show that tomorrow," Thapa said. "At this level, you cannot afford to make too many mistakes. We have to be more disciplined, stay compact and communicate better with each other."

"If you see the result, it was not up to the mark, but the players are giving their best. The attitude of the players has been very good. We were playing against a stronger team, no doubt, but there is no excuse. We need to rectify our mistakes and fight back. In tomorrow's game, every player must take responsibility and give everything," Jamil said.

"We are playing an away game, and there is a seven-and-a-half-hour time difference. We had only one day of practice before travelling, and then had to play within two days. It takes time to adjust. Sometimes the mind is ready, but the body is not. But now everybody is settled, I believe," Jamil said.

"The result, yes, it is my mistake. There were individual errors as well that led to the goals we conceded. But one good thing is the attitude of the players. They are ready to bounce back," Jamil added. New Zealand will look to maintain its dominance after the emphatic victory in the opener, while India will seek a markedly improved showing in the second friendly.

The second encounter will kick off at 8:40 AM IST at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch on Sunday, November 15. Live updates and coverage will be available through the match live blog.