Three net bowlers, camp in Wellington: India chalk out Test preparation plan
toi
newspoint|09-11-2026
HAMILTON: The Indian cricket team is firming up its preparation plan for the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand . The players in the squad will leave for Wellington from Hamilton and will also be assisted by batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and bowling coach Morne Morkel . The players in the India A set-up in Christchurch will also link up with the group in Wellington.
Kotak revealed at the presser that the team management is also considering keeping Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar and Auqib Nabi back for the Test camp, and head coach Gautam Gambhir will soon make the final call. Gambhir will stay back with the ODI team.
"Gautam will have to be here. One day, the World Cup is coming, so he will be staying here, and probably, Sairaj (Bahutule) will stay here. Me, Morne (Morkel) and some other staff will go to Wellington. This is the plan. It will be finalised by Gautam, so it can change. We will just try and see that their (Test squad's) loading, their fitness and their practice are adequate, and that they get enough preparation, as much as the conditions permit us. Arsh (Arshdeep Singh), (Auqib) Nabi and Gurnoor (Brar), if I am not wrong, will stay back for Tests," said Kotak.
India played the first two ODIs in challenging conditions, and Kotak felt that while the colour of the ball will change, the experience will hold the Test-bound players in good stead for the two-match series. Both the Auckland and Wellington fixtures were low-scoring affairs, and batters from both teams found life difficult in conditions that were seaming and swinging and offered encouraging bounce to the bowlers. With a short turnaround time between the ODI and Test series, the Indian camp is hoping that the Wellington sessions will keep the squad ready for the Basin Reserve opener.
Additionally, players like Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Devdutt Padikkal, Akash Deep and Sai Sudharsan have been with the India A team and got some crucial game time under their belts.
"The wicket in both the ODIs had swing, and when it stopped after 4-6 overs, there was seam movement and a little awkward bounce also. So, in hindsight, it is a good thing because in the Test match, the same thing can happen, and only the ball will be red. Yes, the intent and mindset will be that of a one-day game, but one thing is that with the wickets here—thicker grass, 12-14 [mm of grass]—and the conditions, you can get an idea in one day also. Even if there is more green in the Test pitch, there is not much green in this one. But it is quite a good condition to play in... it is challenging.
"Plus, there are many India A matches—three India A matches—which the red-ball players are playing. So that is also a big advantage for batters and bowlers because they would know where to bowl, what length to bowl, how much to hit, how much to release, and what help to expect. So, I think, all in all, the preparation has been very good, and on top of that, the Test players are going for a camp on the 11th, so we will also get 5-6 sessions. Fingers crossed, we should be ready for the Test series as well," explained Kotak.
After wrapping up their ODI commitments, Shubman Gill and other members of the Test squad will head for Wellington, while the remaining team heads to Tauranga for the last two fixtures, where the team will be led by Shubman Gill.
Kotak revealed at the presser that the team management is also considering keeping Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar and Auqib Nabi back for the Test camp, and head coach Gautam Gambhir will soon make the final call. Gambhir will stay back with the ODI team.
"Gautam will have to be here. One day, the World Cup is coming, so he will be staying here, and probably, Sairaj (Bahutule) will stay here. Me, Morne (Morkel) and some other staff will go to Wellington. This is the plan. It will be finalised by Gautam, so it can change. We will just try and see that their (Test squad's) loading, their fitness and their practice are adequate, and that they get enough preparation, as much as the conditions permit us. Arsh (Arshdeep Singh), (Auqib) Nabi and Gurnoor (Brar), if I am not wrong, will stay back for Tests," said Kotak.
India played the first two ODIs in challenging conditions, and Kotak felt that while the colour of the ball will change, the experience will hold the Test-bound players in good stead for the two-match series. Both the Auckland and Wellington fixtures were low-scoring affairs, and batters from both teams found life difficult in conditions that were seaming and swinging and offered encouraging bounce to the bowlers. With a short turnaround time between the ODI and Test series, the Indian camp is hoping that the Wellington sessions will keep the squad ready for the Basin Reserve opener.
Additionally, players like Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Devdutt Padikkal, Akash Deep and Sai Sudharsan have been with the India A team and got some crucial game time under their belts.
"The wicket in both the ODIs had swing, and when it stopped after 4-6 overs, there was seam movement and a little awkward bounce also. So, in hindsight, it is a good thing because in the Test match, the same thing can happen, and only the ball will be red. Yes, the intent and mindset will be that of a one-day game, but one thing is that with the wickets here—thicker grass, 12-14 [mm of grass]—and the conditions, you can get an idea in one day also. Even if there is more green in the Test pitch, there is not much green in this one. But it is quite a good condition to play in... it is challenging.
"Plus, there are many India A matches—three India A matches—which the red-ball players are playing. So that is also a big advantage for batters and bowlers because they would know where to bowl, what length to bowl, how much to hit, how much to release, and what help to expect. So, I think, all in all, the preparation has been very good, and on top of that, the Test players are going for a camp on the 11th, so we will also get 5-6 sessions. Fingers crossed, we should be ready for the Test series as well," explained Kotak.
After wrapping up their ODI commitments, Shubman Gill and other members of the Test squad will head for Wellington, while the remaining team heads to Tauranga for the last two fixtures, where the team will be led by Shubman Gill.
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