Calcutta: In both innings at the Green Park when most of his teammates struggled against Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, Luke Ronchi preferred his aggressive strokeplay to do the talking.

Well, his aggression couldn't save New Zealand the Test, it certainly provided New Zealand with a weapon to counter India's spinners. And it won't be a bad idea either if the visiting team management wants to promote Ronchi up the order.

Whatever little success Ronchi has had so far against Indian spinners, he credited his success against spin to his first trip to India 15 years ago as an Australian Cricket Academy member with coach and former Australian wicketkeeper Rod Marsh.

Speaking during New Zealand's travel day from Kanpur to Calcutta, Ronchi said: "I always enjoy playing spin, but it is something I've worked on throughout my career so far.

"I certainly wasn't the same player then as I am now. I went over there trying to cut, pull and do all sorts, which is a lot harder to do at this point in time.

"That was my first experience batting and keeping on these wickets and seeing the different ways people played on it. From then on you're just trying to evolve and learn new ways of playing spin."

Ronchi reckoned it was a combination of factors that contributed to his success in conditions where spin took 26 of the 35 wickets to fall in the game.

"My mindset is pretty much to try and get off strike as much as possible," he said. "I just try and hit gaps and get off strike, keeping it as simple as I possibly can.

"Sometimes, if the field is in a bit more, I try to hit boundaries just so that they'll push the field back and I've got single options. But I'm more of an aggressive batsman anyway.

"If I get in the mindset of trying not to get out, I'll get out. If I'm being positive, my feet will move better, I'll hit the ball better and where I need to."

What mattered most was his ability to play spin well, which had earned him another opportunity Test cricket.

At one stage, it appeared as if he may finish his career with just one Test to his name - a win in England in June 2015 where he scored a vital 88 and 31 before being dropped for New Zealand's tour of Australia last November. However, the tour to India and a specialty for spin ensured Ronchi was back in the spotlight.

Ronchi was optimistic of many more opportunities coming his way. "I always hoped to play and it is just the way it has all worked out, really.

"It's fantastic to get another Test match, to help out and get some runs. Hopefully, I can do it again in the next one," he said.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's efforts to bounce back against India are being affected by injury with all-rounder Jimmy Neesham unlikely to be fit for the remaining two Tests.

New Zealand have already called up veteran off-spinner Jeetan Patel to replace the Mark Craig, who is out of the series with a side strain suffered during the first Test loss in Kanpur.

Neesham missed the first Test because of a rib injury sustained at nets, but was initially rated a good chance for the second Test at the Eden. But head coach Mike Hesson said: "Jimmy is still struggling, unfortunately and might miss out on the third Test too."