Indian Bowlers to Stay for Test Series Preparation Against New Zealand

Preparation for the World Test Championship

The pace bowling trio of Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, and Arshdeep Singh will remain with the Indian Test team to gear up for the important World Test Championship series against New Zealand, which kicks off on November 19. This information was shared by assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak during a press briefing on Monday.

Currently, these bowlers are part of the squad engaged in a five-match ODI series against the Black Caps, with the third match scheduled for Tuesday.

Kotak mentioned, "I believe at least three bowlers will stay back. Gurnoor, possibly Nabi, and I think Arsh is also staying back," during the pre-match conference.

The Test specialists, including skipper Shubman Gill, senior opener KL Rahul, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, and pacer Anshul Kamboj, will commence their training on November 11, departing for Wellington after the third ODI.

"Overall, the preparation has been quite effective. The Test players will attend a camp starting on the 11th, where we will have five or six practice sessions. Hopefully, we will be well-prepared for the Test series," Kotak added.

The coaching staff will also be divided, with head coach Gautam Gambhir remaining for the fourth and fifth ODIs set for November 13 and 15 in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga.

"From what I understand, Gautam will need to stay here due to the upcoming World Cup. So, he will remain. Likely, Sairaj (Bahutule) will also stay here," Kotak explained.

"Morne (Morkel) and other staff members will head to Wellington. These are the current plans, but as I mentioned, the final decision rests with Gautam, so changes may occur.

"We will ensure that the players receive the necessary workload, fitness, and practice to prepare adequately based on the conditions available to us," he concluded.

Seaming Conditions Favor Test Preparation

Kotak concurred with New Zealand's batting coach Luke Ronchi that the challenging pitches at Eden Park in Auckland and Hnry Stadium in Wellington are beneficial for both batters and bowlers in their preparation for the Test matches.

"In retrospect, this is advantageous because similar conditions can arise in Test matches. The only difference will be the color of the ball. The mindset and intent will vary in one-day cricket, but these conditions give us a preview of what to expect," Kotak stated.

He also noted that the Basin Reserve is expected to maintain around 12-14mm of grass, which is typical for this region.

"The pitches here have thicker grass, approximately 12-14mm, and the conditions provide a good indication of what we might face in Test cricket. Although Test wickets may have more grass, these pitches do not have much green. However, they still offer good playing conditions and present challenges."

India A Matches Beneficial for Bowlers

Kotak expressed that the three unofficial Tests between India A and New Zealand A have been instrumental for the Test specialists in understanding the pitches and what to expect during the five-day matches.

Test regulars such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, and Prasidh Krishna participated in the A series.

"Numerous matches involving India A have included our red-ball players, which is a significant advantage for both batters and bowlers.

"The bowlers gain insights into where to bowl, the lengths to target, how much to hit the deck, and the level of assistance they can anticipate from the surface."