India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel, who experienced Wellington’s challenging weather conditions during his international career with South Africa, has given massive advice to the Indian players ahead of the two-match Test series: “Stand near a powerful fan to weather the speedy wind." The weather in Wellington has already been incredibly windy, with wind speeds in the New Zealand capital, as per reports, touching 120 kmph on Monday. The force of the gusts was so strong that it even caught Morkel by surprise.

"I think we've spoken about Wellington, especially before the start of the tour. We've planted those seeds. I spoke to some of the boys who were back in India last night, and they asked what the conditions are like. And I said, "Make sure you get a very strong fan at home, and you walk into the fan because that is going to be your preparation," Morkel said at the press conference. 

"But yeah, like I said, when I toured here with South Africa, we had certain ways that we went about trying to get used to it. I don't think you can ever get used to it in a space of two, three, four days. So like I said, this is the way you're going to frame the whole situation.

"You're either going to see it as a challenge, or you're going to see it as a negative, or it's going to let you down. And hopefully we can get those guys in the mental space where they look forward to that challenge. And at the end of the day, you need somebody to put their hand up and bowl into the wind because we can't have four guys bowling with the wind."

Morkel also revealed that the wind was so powerful that he could feel it even while inside his hotel. Meanwhile, he also highlighted that the swirling air can disrupt a bowler’s rhythm, complicate run-ups and make it difficult for players to adjust to the changing conditions on the field. Notably, India will face New Zealand in the third T20I on Tuesday in Wellington.

"This is a different beast, this wind. I was in the hotel this morning, and the whole building was sort of shaking. So I think it's going to be a new sort of thing that we add to our books for the guys to get used to and accustomed with, with a quick turnaround. But yeah, for us, again, it is looking forward to that challenge and taking it head-on and not really making excuses.

"I think this wind can impact a lot of things. It can impact batting, your stance, it can impact you at the crease, it can impact many factors. But like I said, you've got a short little window where a warm-up and a training that you can now try and get an understanding from how it's going to affect you. And then when it comes to game time, you have to block that out, and really just try and execute every delivery and make every ball count."