Indian Test team to have short camp in Wellington

Hamilton: While a series victory in the ongoing five one-dayers versus New Zealand is high on the Indian team management’s mind, it is winning the two-Test series, starting November 19, that is their primary target for the crucial World Test Championship points that are at stake as fourth-placed India plot a late dash for the final berth.In a bid to better prepare for the two Tests, Shubman Gill and K L Rahul will depart after the third ODI in Seddon Park to Wellington to join the rest of the Test squad for a short 4-5 day camp, possibly starting on November 11.India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, bowling coach Morne Morkel and a few support staff members will also leave for Wellington on Wednesday to oversee the camp — possibly at Basin Reserve where the first Test will be played — while head coach Gautam Gambhir travels with the one-day squad for the final two games in Mount Maunganui. Gambhir will link up with the Test squad after the ODI series concludes on Nov 15.Addressing the media here on the eve of the third ODI, Kotak said they intend to work on all aspects of the game in the short camp. “There are different phases in Test cricket and we will be working on them. If you lose the toss and bat first, there will be different requirements. If you bat second, it will be different. Third and fourth innings will be different.India vs New Zealand | India’s Test ambitions take centre stage as Gill, Rahul set to join Wellington camp“In my mind, there is no doubt that, like we play in India on turning tracks, there are phases, here there are different challenges. So, we have to prepare like that. Depending on winning or losing the toss, on how wickets behave, depending on how the weather is, depending on how their bowlers are approaching… So our camp will be factoring in all of it.”Kotak also said there’s no one-size-fits-all and each player will work on specific goals with room for discussion. “How we talk to (Yashasvi) Jaiswal could be completely different to what you speak to K L (Rahul). Or how you speak to Shubman. I personally feel that we have to see every individual strength. How they like to score runs. In these conditions, which shots will be possible and useful, and which shots they can avoid.”Kotak, who felt the toss could prove to be very crucial in the two Tests, said fast bowlers Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar and Auqib Nabi will stay back after the ODI series to help out the red-ball team.Rain ruins third day’s playPersistent rains on Monday washed out the third day’s play between India A and New Zealand A of their third and final unofficial Test reports PTI from Lincoln. Brief scores: India A: 464/5 vs New Zealand A: (O/n: 36/2) in 14 overs (Prasidh Krishna 2-12).

Source: Deccan Herald