Former India batting coach Abhishek Nayar believes the upcoming Test series against New Zealand presents Gautam Gambhir’s team with a significant opportunity to avenge the humiliating 0-3 home series defeat in 2024. Nayar, who was part of Gambhir’s coaching staff during that disappointing campaign, admitted that the result continues to hurt him.
New Zealand created history in 2024 by handing India their first-ever 3-0 Test series whitewash on home soil. It was Gambhir’s second Test series as head coach, and the visitors outplayed India with their superior preparation and execution on spin-friendly pitches.
The defeat also dealt a major blow to India’s hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship final. It was followed by a significant transition in Indian cricket, with senior players Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin announcing their retirements from Test cricket in the following months.
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Speaking on JioHotstar, Nayar stressed that winning the upcoming series should be a major priority for India. He even suggested that the 2027 World Cup could take a back seat for the moment, given the importance of securing India’s first Test series victory in New Zealand since 2009. “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.
He further described the contest as a defining assignment for Gambhir and the Indian team, insisting that the visitors must respond with a series victory on New Zealand soil. “This Test series, for me, is a decisive one for Gautam Gambhir and Indian fans. Just like they beat us here in India, we should beat them there,” he added.
Apart from discussing the importance of the series, Nayar questioned India’s preparation plans ahead of the red-ball contest. The short turnaround between the final ODI and the opening Test, scheduled to begin just four days later, could create difficulties for players featuring in both formats.
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Although Shubman Gill and KL Rahul are expected to leave the ODI series midway to prepare for the Tests, Nayar believes India’s multi-format players should have had more time dedicated exclusively to red-ball cricket.
He felt an extended preparation window of one or two months would have helped players adjust better to the demands of Test cricket. “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,” Nayar said.
