Hurt me a little: Abhishek Nayar recalls painful New Zealand series defeat at home

Abhishek Nayar admits India's 0-3 home series defeat to New Zealand still hurts. The former batting coach also explains why KL Rahul and Shubman Gill should prioritise red-ball preparation ahead of the upcoming Test series.Abhishek Nayar worked as India's batting coach under Gautam Gambhir (Photo: Getty)New Delhi,Nov 2, 2026 15:05 ISTThe 0-3 home series defeat against New Zealand in 2024 was a difficult period for Indian cricket. For Abhishek Nayar, who was part of the coaching staff at the time, the disappointment still lingers. Nearly two years on, the former India batting coach admits that the loss hurt him, just as it did millions of Indian fans.Speaking on JioHotstar, Nayar reflected on India's defeat and stressed the importance of getting the better of New Zealand in the upcoming two-Test series. He also believes India must get its priorities right, particularly with a short turnaround between the ODI assignments and the red-ball contests."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. There should be a balance in life. World Cup is important, but there is some time for that," Nayar said.DIFFICULT PERIOD FOR INDIA'S COACHING STAFFNayar's comments carry added significance given his involvement in the coaching setup during India's difficult 2024-25 Test season. Under Gautam Gambhir, India suffered a historic 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand at home before losing 1-3 to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India's batting was a major concern in both assignments. Senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma struggled to deliver consistently, while the team failed to find answers against opposition bowling attacks.The disappointing run eventually prompted the BCCI to conduct a review of India's performances. Nayar was subsequently removed from the coaching staff as the board assessed the shortcomings within Gambhir's setup. For Nayar, the upcoming series offers an opportunity to put that painful result behind Indian cricket. He believes the assignment is particularly important for Gambhir, who will be keen to establish a stronger record in Test cricket."This Test series, for me, is a decisive one for Gautam Gambhir and Indian fans," he said.MORE RED-BALL PREPARATIONThe former batting coach also questioned whether India's multi-format players should be required to juggle ODI commitments immediately before an important Test assignment.With KL Rahul and Shubman Gill featuring in both formats, Nayar would have preferred the two to get an extended period of red-ball preparation rather than switch between formats at short notice."So, I would have liked players like KL Rahul and Shubman Gill, who are playing both formats, to focus only on Test cricket. Because now you have to prepare for the ODIs and, after that, the Tests," he explained.Nayar felt that giving the players one or two months to work on their red-ball game would have been a better way to approach the series."Just like they beat us here in India, we should beat them there," he added.For Nayar, the result of the previous series is still difficult to forget. This time, he wants India to ensure New Zealand leave with a very different memory.- Ends