Stead admits NZ are facing a ‘tough and challenging’ schedule – ESPNcricinfo.com

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They will begin their tour of India with a three-match T20I series in Jaipur, just three days after losing the T20 WC final

The Test players, who are not part of the T20I squad, are already in India. The New Zealand support staff will have to juggle with training the Test players in the morning and the T20I group later in the evening while in India.

"It's the first time that I can remember that we're so quickly into another series immediately at the back-end of the T20 World Cup," Stead said. "It's definitely tough and challenging but it is what is in front of us. We've got nine-ten guys in India already, who are preparing for those Test matches, and hopefully we can get up and have a really great performance against India."

Match highlights of the Men's T20 World Cup final is available in English, and in Hindi (USA only).

New Zealand will also have to make a call on their regular captain Kane Williamson, who has been managing an elbow injury, which flared up during the warm-ups ahead of the T20 World Cup.

"In terms of Lockie, I think he is pretty close," Stead said. "We will just make sure we get over there, travel okay and there's no issues like seizing up on the flight or anything like that. But I'd expect that he's going to be available for selection, which will be fantastic.

"With all the guys that are going to prepare for the Test matches, we just have to make that call over there - whether we think it's in the best interests of them and also in the best interests of the team being that the Test matches are more of our priority, I think, in the next month than what the T20 matches will be."

Deivarayan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

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Stead admits NZ are facing a 'tough and challenging' schedule - ESPNcricinfo.com