Thiruvananthapuram, September 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has underlined the value of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s experience to the younger members of the squad as the team begins its preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
India will start an extended 50-over programme with a three-match ODI series against the West Indies, beginning in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. Rohit and Kohli, who are now focused on ODI cricket, are part of the squad as India builds towards next year’s global tournament.
Kotak said experienced players regularly share their knowledge with youngsters and described the process as an important part of the team environment.
“See, it is all about sharing experience. They always do that,” Kotak said at the pre-match press conference. He added that senior players, including Rohit, Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir, speak to younger players whenever they encounter situations similar to those the seniors have experienced.
With roughly 30 ODIs expected before the World Cup, Kotak said India’s preparation would focus on taking each series as an opportunity to adapt to different conditions and execute specific plans.
The West Indies series will be followed by assignments against Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and New Zealand, among others. Kotak said the team would also use overseas series to prepare for conditions that could differ significantly from those in India, including moisture, grass and challenging wickets.
“Every series, whether it is West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe or New Zealand, all games are important for us because we want to execute things,” he said.
Kotak also acknowledged the challenge of balancing experimentation with the need for results. He said giving opportunities to new players could sometimes affect outcomes, but that such exposure was necessary to build the squad.
Reflecting on the team’s recent experiences, including the series in England, he said the coaching staff would continue to provide opportunities while also seeking the desired results.
Kotak also praised new fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh, who has replaced T Dilip, and said the change had brought new drills and ideas to the team’s training sessions.
With players having limited breaks between international cricket and the IPL, Kotak said the team tries to maximise every available practice session, using even optional sessions to provide players with opportunities to work on specific aspects of their game.
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