India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has said the challenging playing conditions encountered during the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand have served as valuable preparation for the two-match Test series beginning on 19 November, giving the visiting squad an early feel of the swing, seam movement, and awkward bounce they are likely to face in red-ball cricket.

What Kotak Said About the Conditions

Speaking ahead of the third ODI in Hamilton on Tuesday, Kotak acknowledged that no adjustments to batting approach would be made mid-series, but said the nature of the surfaces had still provided instructive insights. '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,' he said. '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 also pointed to the thicker grass — described as 12–14mm — on New Zealand pitches as a factor that naturally conditions batters for the demands ahead, even within a white-ball context. He noted that the low-scoring nature of the matches, frequently settling around 140-type totals rather than 300-type, reflects just how challenging these surfaces are.

India A and the Mount Maunganui Camp

Beyond the ODI series itself, Kotak highlighted parallel preparations as a key pillar of India's Test readiness. Three four-day matches involving India A have provided competitive red-ball exposure to players earmarked for the Test setup. Additionally, players transitioning out of the ODI squad are scheduled to attend a training camp at Mount Maunganui from 11 November, giving them five to six dedicated sessions before the first Test.

'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,' Kotak said. '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... so fingers crossed, we should be ready for the Test series as well.'

Developing Younger Batters: The Naman Challenge

Kotak also addressed the delicate task of helping India's younger batters calibrate their natural aggression to the demands of difficult match situations. The lower-order collapse in the second ODI — with rain threatening to curtail proceedings — provided a live case study in situational awareness.

Discussing Naman's approach specifically, Kotak was careful not to call for a change in his style. 'The tricky thing is, these people play such good aggressive cricket, and we keep speaking about positive intent,' he said. 'The thin line is, the cricket Naman plays, his style, and the ability that he has, that's why he's here. If he starts playing defensively, you'll say there are lots of players like that in India.'

He framed the challenge as helping young players read the game — recognising when to hold back — without eroding the attacking instinct that earned them their place. A similar observation was made about Anshul, who, Kotak noted, could have played out more deliveries given that KL Rahul was at the other end and the match situation did not demand big hits.

Series Context and What Comes Next

India currently hold a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series. The remaining matches offer an opportunity to fine-tune combinations, but the Test-bound players will depart after Tuesday's third ODI to begin their red-ball preparations. The first of the two Tests is scheduled to get underway on 19 November, with India carrying into it what Kotak described as a thorough and well-structured build-up.