India head coach Gautam Gambhir has indicated that some of the team's senior batters could be rested from white-ball cricket to allow them to prepare for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand.
Gambhir pointed out the difficulty of moving from 50-over cricket to the Test format within a short period, especially with India's congested schedule giving players limited time to adapt to the demands of red-ball cricket.
While Gambhir did not specifically name New Zealand, India's schedule highlights the concern.
The first Test in Wellington is scheduled to begin on November 19, only three days after the fifth and final ODI against New Zealand in Tauranga. The 12-match tour will feature all three formats, making workload management a potential consideration ahead of 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 consequently rest some of their major 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 feature in India's Test plans.
With just two days separating the final ODI from the opening Test, managing the workload of key players could play an important role in selection.
Gambhir also expects the number of players capable of featuring across all three formats to decrease in the coming years, despite coaches and selectors preferring to have as many all-format cricketers 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 once again emphasised that Test cricket remains a priority for India and said performances in the longest format will continue to be particularly important.
"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 get underway with a three-match home series against the West Indies. Jasprit Bumrah will miss the series because of his Asian Games commitments, while Hardik Pandya is yet to regain the ability to bowl his complete quota of 10 overs in ODIs.
Gambhir said both players would be crucial to India's World Cup plans 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 underlined the importance of ensuring that Hardik gets sufficient match practice after playing limited 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 expressed confidence in Shubman Gill, saying the India ODI captain continues to develop and can draw on the experience of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
"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 endured a challenging period in ODI cricket, with India suffering series defeats against England, Australia away from home and New Zealand at home. Gambhir nevertheless backed the young captain to improve his fortunes.
"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.
TWO YEARS AS HEAD COACH
Gambhir has experienced both achievements and setbacks during his two-year tenure as India's head coach. India won the ICC Champions Trophy and T20 World Cup during his time in charge, but also suffered home Test series defeats against New Zealand and South Africa.
Looking back on his stint as coach, Gambhir acknowledged that it has included both positive and difficult periods.
"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."
Watch the three-match ODI Series of the West Indies tour of India, from September 27 to October 3, 2 PM onwards, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network
