Black Caps coach Gary Stead says this year's Cricket World Cup is a secondary thought for his side at the moment, more focussed on coming from 2-0 down for a series win over India.
Following last night's 90-run defeat at Bay Oval, the Black Caps now need to win three straight ODIs to take the five-match series.
However, with the World Cup now less than six months away, worrying signs are beginning to appear for the Black Caps, with a number of spots still seemingly undecided for Stead and his coaching unit.
Speaking to media last night, though, coach Stead said that the Black Caps aren't looking too far ahead - only taking things one game at a time.
"The World Cup is a little bit secondary still," he began. "We still want this series first and foremost.
"We're just still working out what we think the best XI are, and how we balance the team with the right number of bowlers versus all-rounders versus batsmen.
"We've got some quality players in New Zealand that are all fighting for places. Yes, there's the big prize at the end of it, but to be perfectly honest it's [the World Cup] a secondary thing for me at the moment.
"It's still about working in this series what we have to do to win three in a row now."
The Black Caps now face a must-win third ODI, again in Mount Maunganui, tomorrow afternoon.
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