New Delhi, November 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former India batting coach Abhishek Nayar believes the upcoming two-Test series against New Zealand will be a defining assignment for head coach Gautam Gambhir and Indian cricket, arguing that players featuring in both formats should have been given more time to prepare with the red ball.
Nayar said India should have prioritised Test preparation for players such as Shubman Gill and KL Rahul instead of asking them to switch between formats ahead of the series. He felt the players would have benefited from one or two months of dedicated red-ball practice following India’s previous Test series defeat to New Zealand on home soil.
“New Zealand came to India, they beat us in the Test series, and that hurt me a little, as it did the rest of our fans too. So, it’s a big series,” Nayar said in an interview with JioStar.
He acknowledged the importance of the upcoming World Cup but argued that the Test assignment deserved immediate attention.
“For me, this Test series is a decisive one for Gautam Gambhir and Indian fans. I would have liked players like KL Rahul and Shubman Gill, who are playing both formats, to focus only on Test cricket,” he said.
Nayar added that India should aim to return the favour after New Zealand’s previous success in India.
He also discussed Yashasvi Jaiswal’s omission from the ODI squad, suggesting that the left-handed opener could have used the break from limited-overs cricket to strengthen his Test preparations through domestic competition.
Nayar said Jaiswal could have been encouraged to play Ranji Trophy cricket rather than remain on the sidelines, giving him an opportunity to prepare for the New Zealand Tests and contribute to India’s campaign.
India have announced separate squads and leadership arrangements for the five-match ODI series. Gill will captain the first three matches, while Shreyas Iyer will lead the side in the final two. Gill and Rahul are expected to leave the ODI setup after the third match to prepare for the Test assignment.
The two-Test series will give India an opportunity to respond to New Zealand’s previous success on Indian soil.
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