Coach Gambhir hints at white-ball break for key batsmen ahead of NZ Test series

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has hinted that some of the team’s key batsmen might take a break from white-ball cricket to prepare for the upcoming Test series in New Zealand.

Gambhir highlighted the challenge of transitioning from 50-over cricket to Test cricket in a short space of time, with India’s busy schedule leaving little time for players to adapt to the demands of the longest format.

Although Gambhir did not specifically mention New Zealand, India’s schedule makes the situation clear.

The first Test in Wellington begins on November 19, just three days after the fifth and final ODI against New Zealand in Tauranga. The 12-match tour will cover all three formats, raising the possibility of India handling the load on their key players ahead of the two-Test series.

“Often in the build-up to a Test match, you’ll have to give your batsmen a break from the white ball to move into Test cricket because it’s easy to go from T20 to one-day cricket,” Gambhir told JioStar ahead of India’s domestic season.

Therefore, India could rest some of their leading players for a few ODIs before the Test series. Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Reddy could all be part of the Test plans.

With just two days between the final ODI and the first Test, workload management could become an important factor in India’s selection.

Gambhir also believes that the number of players capable of playing all three formats will decline in the coming years, even though coaches and selectors want as many players in all formats as possible.

“Look, ideally for any coach it’s very important that the more players play all three formats the better because continuity in international cricket is very important,” he said.

“So, whatever the coach wants, whatever the selectors want, whatever they do, you will have very few players in the three formats in the coming times because you will have to keep rotating your players, be it shooters or fast bowlers.”

Gambhir reiterated that Test cricket remains India’s priority and said success in the longest format will continue to carry significant weight.

“When you bring in new people, obviously you try to make them feel how important Test cricket is because I’m a big believer that a strong Test cricket nation is a strong cricket nation.

“It’s not the other way around. I never believed that a strong T20 cricket nation is a strong cricket nation. So the red-ball still remains our priority.”

WORLD CUP 2027 AND COMBINATION

India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup will begin at home with a three-match series against the West Indies. Jasprit Bumrah will miss the series due to his Asian Games commitments Hardik Pandya is still not fit to bowl his full quota of 10 overs in ODIs.

Gambhir said both players will be important for India’s plans for the 2027 World Cup in South Africa.

“Whether it’s Hardik, whether it’s Jasprit Bumrah, they’re both going to be hugely important for us in South Africa. Because when you’re talking about Jassi or Hardik, very few teams have a player like that who can bowl 10 overs for you, plus bat at number six or seven, with that kind of impact.”

Gambhir also stressed the importance of giving Hardik enough game time after his limited-overs cricket run since the IPL.

“Especially for Hardik because he needs game time as well. Because he hasn’t played much cricket after the IPL. So if he only focuses on having to play the 50-over format, then he might miss cricket.”

“Game time at the World Cup will be extremely, extremely important. You can’t go there half-baked. So you should have enough game time, your rhythm should be so good because going to the World Cup, there are no ifs and buts.”

Gambhir also backed Shubman Gill and said the India ODI captain is improving and has the benefit of the experience of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli around him.

“In ODIs, he (Gill) is very lucky to have Rohit and Virat helping him on and off the field. Leaving anyone out of the playing eleven in Indian cricket is always going to be difficult.

“But when you have to do it as a young captain, it’s probably the hardest job for any coach and captain. He’s done it so far. He’s ticked all the boxes really.”

Gill has had a tough run in ODI cricket, with India losing series against England, Australia away and New Zealand at home. However, Gambhir backed the young skipper to turn things around.

“I feel he has done all the right things. He has had a bit of a tough time in One Day cricket. But I am sure, I think things will turn around because he has done all the right things,” he said.

TWO YEARS AS HEAD COACH

Gambhir has had both success and failure in his two years as India’s head coach. India won the ICC Champions Trophy and the T20 World Cup during his tenure, but also suffered Test series defeats against New Zealand and South Africa at home.

Reflecting on his time in charge, Gambhir admitted that the journey had its share of ups and downs. “I think I’ve had my own share of ups and downs, I think I’ve had my own share of failures and successes. But then again, I’ve always believed that when you take on that kind of responsibility, there’s always going to be ups and downs.”

– The end

Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

23 Sep 2026 16:47 IST