Only Gambhir: India to not have batting and bowling coaches in camp after 3rd ODI

India’s coaching staff will be split after the third ODI against New Zealand. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and bowling coach Morne Morkel are set to leave the ODI camp to begin preparations for the Test series starting on November 19.

There is virtually no gap between the ODI and Test series, with the five-match 50-over stage ending on November 15. India are preparing for the red-ball series at the same time, with the India A team taking on New Zealand A in three tournament matches before the two Tests.

The India A team is currently overseen by Hrishikesh Kanitkar and will be joined by the batting and bowling coaches of the senior team in the build-up to the series. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule are expected to remain in the ODI squad for the final two matches.

Kotak revealed the likely plan during a press conference in Hamilton on Monday, although he said Gambhir would have the final say on the coaching staff’s move.

“Obviously Gautam will have to be here – the one-day World Cup is coming up, so he will stay here and probably Sairaj too. Me, Morne and some other staff will go to Wellington,” Kotak said.

“That’s the plan, but like I said, the final decision will be made by Gautam. It may change, but that’s probably the way it will be. We’ll just try and see that their load, their conditioning, their practice – we’re doing as much preparation as the conditions allow.”

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India will also have three fast bowlers from the ODI squad staying in New Zealand to help the Test team with their preparations. Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi and Arshdeep Singh are likely to join the Test contingent as bowlers and backup options.

“I think three bowlers. Gurnoor, maybe Nabi and I think Arsh is also holding back,” Kotak said.

Several members of the Indian Test squad, including Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Anshul Kamboj and Kuldeep Yadav, are not part of the plans for the last two ODIs and are expected to join the pre-series camp in Wellington.

The two-Test series is important for India. It will be their first meeting with New Zealand in this format since the visitors handed them a humiliating 3-0 whitewash at home. India will also be looking to keep their World Test Championship finals hopes alive after Australia’s recent series defeat to South Africa opened a possible way back into contention.

With the ODI series ending just four days before the first Test, India have to divide their resources between the two tasks. The departure of Kotak and Morkel after the third ODI leaves Gambhir and Bahutule to oversee the one-day side for the rest of the series.

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