Nabi, Gurnoor, Arshdeep to stay back and help Test preparations against New Zealand: Kotak

Hamilton The white-ball pace trio of Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, and Arshdeep Singh will stay back to help the Indian Test squad prepare for the crucial World Test Championship series against New Zealand starting on November 19, assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak said on Monday (November 9, 2026). The three are currently a part of the squad that is engaged in a five-ODI series against the Black Caps. The third game of the assignment will be held in Hamilton on Tuesday (November 10, 2026).

"I think three bowlers are going to stay back anyway. Gurnoor, maybe Nabi, and I think Arsh is also staying back," Kotak said in a pre-match press conference on Monday (November 9, 2026). The former Saurashtra batter also said that the Test specialists will start their preparations from November 11 with skipper Shubman Gill, senior opener KL Rahul, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, and pacer Anshul Kamboj leaving for Wellington after the third ODI game here on Tuesday.

"All in all, I think the preparation has been very good.