‘Play the ball as late as possible’: Sunil Gavaskar’s advice to Indian batsmen for New Zealand Tests

Mumbai: Sunil Gavaskar has advised the Indian batsmen to play the ball as late as possible when they take on New Zealand in the two-Test series in Wellington and Christchurch, where swing and swing are expected to pose a big challenge.India struggled on their last Test tour of New Zealand in February-March 2020, losing 0-2 after managing totals of 165, 191, 242 and 124. With green pitches likely to reappear, Gavaskar said patience and technique would be vital.“Just like in England, you try to play as late as possible. Don’t try to commit too much because it gives you a chance to cover the movement off the pitch,” Gavaskar said.“When there’s movement in the air, you can see it and react. But after the pitch, the movement happens very close to the bat. The later you play, the better chance you have to score and defend a good ball. Don’t pressure the ball. Defend with soft, not hard.”The batting great also questioned the decision to schedule only two Tests and said that each series in the next cycle of the World Test Championship should have at least three matches.“Ideally, there should be at least three Tests. Two Tests will not always give you a result. One team can win one match and another team the next. The third Test gives you a better chance to win the series,” he said.He believes India will benefit from having spent more time in New Zealand ahead of the Tests, with the team having already played five T20Is and five ODIs on the tour.“One of the biggest challenges in New Zealand is getting your body clock used to the time difference. It takes a really long time to adjust to your sleeping and waking hours. Just having the Indian team there will be a big plus,” Gavaskar said.He warned that early summer conditions could make batting difficult, but said runs would be available once the batsmen settled down.“There will be good grass, cooler weather and a chance of rain. The ball will be moving in the air and after the pitch, so it won’t be easy. But once you settle in, it could be some of the best pitches to bat on. I hope our batsmen get going,” he said.Gavaskar also backed India’s fast attack to challenge New Zealand.“With Jasprit Bumrah leading the attack and Mohammed Siraj around, we have the ability to surprise the New Zealand batting unit. We have a good team. Like anything you need a bit of luck,” he said.(Tune in: Watch India’s tour of New Zealand live and exclusively on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV from October 22, 2026.)