Khalid Jamil: India arrive in Auckland ahead of two friendlies against New Zealand
The Indian Men’s national team arrived in Auckland late on Monday night, November 9, ahead of two international friendlies against New Zealand, head coach Khalid Jamil said: “The flight was smooth, and the players are fit and ready. We have settled in well. This is the first time the Indian team has come to New Zealand, so it is a new experience for us. We are looking forward to the matches.”
The squad departed Bengaluru around midnight on November 8, travelled via Kuala Lumpur for a short layover and landed in Auckland at 23:30 local time (16:00 IST), completing a long journey across continents. The visit marks the first time the Blue Tigers have travelled to the country, which the article notes is known as Aotearoa in the traditional Māori language, and Auckland is identified as New Zealand’s largest city.
A cool late-spring evening met the team, with temperatures around 16 degrees Celsius and a drizzle on the route from the airport to the hotel. The city was described as calm and peaceful at that hour with relatively clear roads, while players on the team bus remained lively and showed no visible signs of fatigue.
Jamil added: “The weather is not a problem. The players are adjusting well, and we will focus on our training and preparation,” and the Blue Tigers were scheduled to begin with an activation session on Tuesday morning. An evening training session at North Harbour Stadium was set for 16:00 local time, with a practice at the match venue, Go Media Stadium, planned for 19:00 on the eve of the opening fixture.
India’s first meeting with New Zealand took place at the 2018 Intercontinental Cup in Mumbai, where the hosts went down 1-2; India went on to win that tournament. The upcoming friendlies will mark only the second occasion on which the two national teams have faced each other.
Acknowledging the challenge of playing away, Jamil appealed to local support: “I know there are many Indian fans here in New Zealand. I would request them to come to the stadium and support the team. Their support is important for us, and we will try to give our best on the pitch.” He also reflected on recent opposition: “Last window, we played against three strong teams, and now we have another strong opponent in New Zealand. But this time, we are playing away from home, so it will be a different kind of test for us. We have to be ready, work hard and give our best in both matches.”
The opening friendly is scheduled to kick off at 19:10 local time (11:40 IST) on Thursday, November 12; the squad will then travel to Christchurch on November 13 ahead of the second match at the One New Zealand Stadium on Sunday, November 15 at 16:10 local time (08:40 IST).