But things are about to change in the India vs New Zealand preparations after the third ODI in Hamilton with the Indian coaching staff now divided between the one day series and the upcoming Test series. Sitanshu Kotak is likely to accompany the ODI unit as a batting coach while Morne Morkel will head the fast-bowling contingent and accompany them to Wellington to get ready with the Test team.
This move should allow the Indian Test side to prepare for the two-match Test series, starting on Nov 19. While a final decision has not been made between the two formats, this is indicative of India’s desire to do the best they can between the two formats.
The plan was explained by Kotak in a press conference in Hamilton on Monday. He advised Gambhir and spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule that they were likely to remain in the ODI group for the rest of the series and he and Morkel along with the other support personnel will head to Wellington.
Kotak emphasized that all plans might change and Gambhir would have the final say. But before that match he made it abundantly clear the coaching group wanted to do as much to prepare the Test players as they could.
That is another key juncture which will be for the third ODI at the ground in Hamilton on Tuesday, as it seeks to bridge the two formats. Several members of the Test squad will miss the fourth and fifth ODI in Mount Maunganui but India will contest matches. Rather, they are expected to go straight to Wellington and to start their preparations there.”
Kotak and Morkel will be travelling to Wellington with the Test squad of captain Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Anshul Kamboj, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav as per the proposed schedule on February 11. These players will sit out of the final two ODIs for the Test series.
Gambhir and Bahutule will continue to be part of the one-day side till the fifth ODI. From Mount Maunganui (on February 15) they would then head down to Wellington on 16 February, one day following the final match. The three other fast bowlers from the ODI squad are also likely to remain in New Zealand to assist the Test squad as net bowlers and as spares.
Kotak then singled out Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi and Arshdeep Singh as top performers who would be unlikely to move out. Their participation may give the Test side extra practice against Indian sewers, and help the coaching crew in the preparation camp.
Many of the New Zealand conditions are different from what an Indian player would face in their home country, in which the women’s team is also split. The process that Kotak was going through would be very ‘match-like,’ rather than just routine batting sessions, he said.
The coaching staff would look at various stages of a Test match including batting first, chasing and third and fourth-wicket situations, he added. The method would also have to hinge on the toss, nature of the new ball and weather elements and opposition bowler’ working.
According to Kotak, preparation should be done according to the situations and the strengths of each batsman. The likes of a player like Yashasvi Jaiswal may look to score in different ways to KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant or any other batsman. The coaching staff will therefore need to be cognizant of how each player prefers to put up an innings and know what “shots are likely to be effective in NZ”, to coin a phrase.
He’s stressed the need for communication between the coaches and the players, too. The staff will not just explain what to do, they will talk through the strategies that could be used and leave time with which to discuss what strategies the batters would come up with. The goal is to get everyone on board the same page concerning the approach for the conditions.
Kotak also noted that toss might be an important factor in the two Tests. The nature of the pitch, weather conditions and match time may affect the approach of some teams in their batting/bowling style. The coaching staff will have to have flexibility and make adjustments to the various scenarios playing with different teams.
The series scheduled next week will prove to be a shot in the arm for India to see how they handle the test of conditions abroad. The Test players will have to react to New Zealand pitches and their bowling task and the coaching group will be called upon to guide each individual according to their strengths.
So, the split in the support staff is geared to make that transition a better one. Kotak and Morkel will start their focused preparations already before they have to do the same with the rest of the coaching group, which is arriving after the ODI series.
In the last leg of the India vs New Zealand series, bowling will progressively become the focus as compared to their one-day games. The success or failure of the preparation camp could hold significance — particularly if it benefits the home side. India’s task is to make swift adjustments, be ready to play in different scenarios and to create some consistency to get through two tough test matches.
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