CHENNAI, Nov 11: Shubman Gill and KL Rahul will not play in India’s final two ODIs against New Zealand as they shift focus to Test preparations. Both players, along with pacer Anshul Kamboj, will depart the ODI camp after the third ODI, which was abandoned due to rain.

India leads the ODI series 2-0, but the loss of Gill and Rahul means that India will introduce new players for the remaining matches. Tilak Varma, Yash Thakur, and Kumar Kushagra will replace them, with Thakur and Kushagra receiving their first ODI call-ups.

Assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak emphasized the importance of preparing for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand, which begins on November 19. He mentioned that “the preparation has been very good,” indicating confidence in the team’s readiness.

With Gill and Rahul leaving, it opens opportunities for others, including Ishan Kishan, who is expected to step into a key batting role alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad. The decision about who will open the batting remains under consideration, especially given Kishan and Gaikwad’s past performances in the middle order.

The coaching staff plans to split their efforts, with head coach Gautam Gambhir remaining with the ODI team for the last two matches while some assistants travel with the Test squad. The Test group will commence their preparations with a camp in Wellington, starting November 11. Kotak noted that challenging pitch conditions in New Zealand would aid both batters and bowlers in honing their skills for the Test format.

He also recognized that playing conditions in the ODIs would help the squad understand what to expect during the Test series, although the nature of the game will differ significantly.