India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak believes seaming conditions in ODI series could be a blessing in disguise for India ahead of New Zealand Tests. In the first two ODIs, bowlers have got the ball to swing, seam, bounce and the batters have found it difficult to get going.
New Zealand was bundled out by an inexperienced Indian bowling line-up for 185 runs in the series opener whereas the hosts could only manage 134 runs in the second game.
India won the opening ODI by five wickets as they chased down the revised target of 143 whereas the visitors won the second game by four runs (DLS method).
“No one will make Test adjustments during a white-ball [series], but at the same time, the way the wickets were in both ODIs, there was swing, and after five-six overs, when the swing stopped, there was seam movement too, and you could say a little bit of awkward bounce too. In hindsight, it’s a good thing, because we might get the same things in the Test matches, only the ball will be red,” Kotak said in the pre-match press conference.
The batting coach said the shadow India A matches will also help the batters in adapting to the difficult conditions. Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna are all part of India’s team in the third unofficial Test match against New Zealand A.
“Plus the three India A matches also, our red-ball players are playing [in them], so that is also a big advantage for batters and at the same time for bowlers also. They would also know where to bowl, what lengths, what help you are getting with what kind of releases. So I think, all in all, the preparation has been very good, and on top of that, the Test players [who will be released from the ODI squad] are going for a camp on the 11th [in Mount Maunganui], so we will get five-six sessions there too. So fingers crossed, we should be ready for the Test series as well,” Kotak said.
The opening Test match between India and New Zealand will be played at Wellington from November 19 onwards.
