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

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has hinted that some of the team's key batters could be given a break from white-ball cricket to prepare for the upcoming Test series in New Zealand.

Gambhir highlighted the challenge of switching from 50-over cricket to Test cricket within a short span, with India's packed schedule leaving little time for players to adjust 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 managing the workload of their key players before the two-Test series.

"Often for Test match preparation, you will have to give your batters a break as well from the white-ball to move into Test cricket, because coming from T20 to one-day cricket is easy," Gambhir told JioStar ahead of India's home season.

India could therefore 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 only two days between the final ODI and the first Test, workload management could become an important factor in India's selection.

Gambhir also believes the number of players capable of playing all three formats will decline in the coming years, despite coaches and selectors wanting as many all-format players as possible.

"Look, ideally for any coach it is very important that as many players play all three formats, the better it is, because continuity in international cricket is very important," he said.

"So, as much as the coach wants, as much as the selectors want, whatever they do, you will have very few three-format players in the coming times, because you will have to keep rotating your players, whether they are spin bowlers 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 are getting the new guys in, obviously trying to make them feel how important Test cricket is, because I'm a very big believer that a strong Test cricketing nation is a strong cricketing nation.

"It's not the other way around. I've never believed that a strong T20 cricket nation is a strong cricketing nation. So red-ball still remains our priority."2027 WORLD CUP AND COMBINATIONS

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

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

"Whether it's Hardik, whether it's Jasprit Bumrah, both of them are going to be extremely important for us in South Africa. Because the way if you talk about Jassi or if you talk about Hardik, very few teams have a player like that who can bowl 10 overs for you, plus bat at number six or seven, plus with that impact."

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

"Especially for Hardik, because he needs game time as well. Because after the IPL he hasn't played a lot of cricket. So if the focus is only that he has to play the 50-over format, then he might be short of cricket.

"Game time going into the World Cup is going to be extremely, extremely important. You cannot go there half-cooked. 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, saying the India ODI captain is improving and has the benefit of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's experience around him.

"In ODIs, he (Gill) is very fortunate that he has got the likes of Rohit and Virat to help him on and off the field. Leaving out anyone in Indian cricket from the playing eleven is always going to be tough.

"But when you have to do that as a young captain, it is probably the toughest job for any coach and captain to do it. So far, he has done that. He has actually ticked all the boxes."

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

"I feel that 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.advertisementTWO YEARS AS HEAD COACHGambhir has experienced both success and setbacks during his two years as India's head coach. India won the ICC Champions Trophy and 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 has had its share of highs and lows. "I think I've had my own share of ups and downs, I think I've had my own failures and success. But again, I've always believed that when you take up that kind of a responsibility, there will always be ups and downs."- EndsPublished By: Saurabh KumarPublished On: Sep 23, 2026 16:47 IST