Only Gambhir: India to not have batting, bowling coaches in camp after 3rd ODI

India are set to split their coaching staff after the third ODI against New Zealand, with Sitanshu Kotak and Morne Morkel moving to the Test camp in Wellington. Gautam Gambhir is expected to remain with the one-day squad for the final two matches.Gautam Gambhir's coachin staff is set for a split. (PTI Photo)New Delhi,Nov 9, 2026 11:31 ISTThe Indian coaching staff is set to split up after the third ODI against New Zealand. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and bowling coach Morne Morkel are set to leave the ODI camp to begin preparations for the Test series, which starts on November 19.There is virtually no gap between the ODI and Test series, with the five-match 50-over leg ending on November 15. India are preparing for the red-ball series simultaneously, with the India A team taking on New Zealand A in three tour games ahead of the two Tests.The India A team is currently being overseen by Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and he will have the senior team's batting and bowling coaches join him in the build-up to the series. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, meanwhile, are expected to remain with the ODI squad for the final two matches.Kotak revealed the likely plan during a press conference in Hamilton on Monday, although he said Gambhir would have the final say on the coaching staff's movements. "Obviously Gautam will have to be here - the one-day World Cup is coming, so he will be staying here and probably Sairaj will stay here. Me, Morne and some other staff will go to Wellington," Kotak said."That's the plan, but like I said, Gautam will make the final decision. It can change, but this is how it will likely be. We'll just try and see that their loading, their fitness, their practice - we do as much preparation as the conditions permit."3 PACERS TO STAY BACK IN NEW ZEALAND India will also have three fast bowlers from the ODI squad stay back in New Zealand to help the Test team with its preparations. Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi and Arshdeep Singh are likely to join the Test contingent as net bowlers and reserve options."I think three bowlers. Gurnoor, maybe Nabi, and I think Arsh is also staying back," Kotak said.Several members of India's Test squad, including Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Anshul Kamboj and Kuldeep Yadav, are not part of the plans for the final two ODIs and are expected to join the pre-series camp in Wellington.The two-Test series is an important one for India. It will be their first meeting with New Zealand in the format since the visitors inflicted a humiliating 3-0 whitewash on them at home. India will also be looking to keep their World Test Championship final hopes alive after Australia's recent series defeat to South Africa opened up a possible route back into contention.With the ODI series ending just four days before the first Test, India are having to divide their resources between the two assignments. The departure of Kotak and Morkel after the third ODI will leave Gambhir and Bahutule to oversee the one-day side for the remainder of the series.- Ends