IND vs NZ Tests: Three India Pacers to Stay Back in New Zealand for Special Preparation Camp

After winning the T20I series 3-2 and leading the ODI series 2-0 after three games, Team India is surely enjoying their time in New Zealand. Once the 5-match IND vs NZ ODI series is over, the all-important 2-match Test series will get underway. The series will be a part of India’s quest to keep their WTC final hopes alive. If India makes it 2-0 in the Test series, they will stay afloat for a final berth.

To ensure no stone is left unturned for their WTC finals quest, India’s assistant and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed that three fast bowlers from the current white-ball squad—Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, and Auqib Nabi—will stay back to assist the Test squad during their specialized preparation camp.

IND vs NZ: Split Coaching Setup for Early Preparations

Speaking to the media ahead of the third IND vs NZ ODI in Kirikiriroa, Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak gave insights on India’s blueprint for the 2-match Test series, set to kick off on November 11 in Wellington (Te Whanganui-a-Tara). He updated the media about Gautam Gambhir’s plan to split up the coaching setup to start early preparations for the 2-match Test series.

Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutle will remain with the ODI squad for the remaining two fixtures. Meanwhile, batting coach Kotak, along with pace bowling coach Morne Morkel, will link up with the Test squad in Te Whanganui-a-Tara to kick off the preparations. Explaining the management’s vision Kotak stated,

“The plan can still change, but as far as I know, obviously Gautam will have to be here—the one-day World Cup is coming, so he will be staying here, and probably Sairaj will stay here. Me, Morne, and some other staff will go to Wellington.”

Pace Trio to Help in Net Sessions for the Test Series

The retention of Auqib Nabi, Arshdeep Singh, and Gurnoor Brar will provide assistance to the other bowlers in the Test squad. The trio will be bowling the batters in the nets to fine tune their preparations ahead of the crucial 2-match Test series.

Several Test-bound players—including Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, and Anshul Kamboj—are set to join the Wellington camp immediately following their ODI commitments. Outlining the expectations for the upcoming training, Kotak added,

“All in all, I think the preparation has been very good. On top of that, the Test players will go for a camp from the 11th, where we will get five or six sessions. Fingers crossed, we should be ready for the Test series as well. India Test players will start their camp from the 11th, so hopefully those 5-6 sessions will help get them prepared for the Test series.”

IND vs NZ: Shubman Gill, KL Rahul & others to skip the remaining ODIs

Indian ODI and Test skipper Shubman Gill, along with wicket-keeper batter KL Rahul, right-arm seamer Anshul Kamboj, have been released from the IND vs NZ ODI for the final two games to get their preparations up and running for the Test series. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has returned for the remaining ODI matches, along with batters Tilak Varma and Kumar Kushagra, who is a wicket-keeper as well. Yash Thakur also joins the squad as a replacement for Prasidh Krishna.

India’s ODI squad for 4th and 5th ODIs: Shreyas Iyer (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (WK/VC), Mohammed Siraj, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Yash Thakur, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Kuldeep Yadav