The ongoing five-match ODI series between New Zealand and India has produced some of the most challenging batting conditions in the current World Cup cycle. Unseasonal wet weather ahead of the first two matches complicated pitch preparation at Eden Park in Auckland and Basin Reserve in Wellington, leaving surfaces that seamed sharply and offered inconsistent bounce well past the 30-over mark.

The numbers reflect just how difficult those surfaces have been. The series has yielded a collective batting average of 16.75, the lowest for any ODI series between two Full Member sides in the current World Cup cycle. The collective strike rate of 68.45 is the second-lowest figure recorded in the same period.

India won the first ODI at Eden Park on November 4 by five wickets via the DLS method, with Virat Kohli contributing 74 off 51 balls. Anshul Kamboj claimed 2/22 and was named Player of the Match. New Zealand had scored 259 in a T20I at the same venue on November 1, but managed only 185 in that first ODI. India then won the second ODI at Basin Reserve on November 7 by four runs under DLS. In that match, Naman Dhir and Anshul Kamboj played aggressive strokes with rain imminent, helping India reach a competitive DLS target. The third ODI is scheduled for November 11 at Seddon Park in Hamilton, where persistent rain is forecast.

What did Sitanshu Kotak say about the seaming conditions?

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak addressed the nature of the pitches across both completed ODIs, noting that the conditions, while demanding, have offered a form of preparation that no structured camp could replicate. The surfaces swung early and then produced seam movement and awkward bounce through the middle overs, closely mirroring what India's batters are likely to encounter in the Test series at Basin Reserve and Hagley Oval.

"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. 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 said, as quoted by Cricinfo.

Kotak also pointed to the India A matches running parallel to the ODI series as an additional advantage, with red-ball players gaining match practice in similar conditions. He confirmed that Test squad members released from ODI duties would attend a camp in Mount Maunganui on November 11, providing five to six further sessions before the Test series begins.

"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. 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, and on top of that, the Test players [who will be released from the ODI squad] are going for a camp on the 11th [in Mount Maunganui], so we will get five-six sessions there too. So fingers crossed, we should be ready for the Test series as well," Kotak.

How did Kotak assess India's approach to aggressive batting in seaming conditions?

The seaming surfaces have also raised questions about how India's younger batters should balance their natural attacking instincts against the demands of difficult conditions. Kotak discussed this challenge directly in the context of the second ODI in Wellington, where Naman Dhir batted aggressively with rain threatening to bring DLS into play. Kotak acknowledged that situational awareness is something younger players develop over time.

"In the last game, after we lost five wickets, we got an idea that there could be rain, and Naman was batting. The tricky thing is, these people play such good aggressive cricket, and we keep speaking about positive intent. If someone says Naman shouldn't have played that shot - even I may not have wanted him to play that shot, for example - but the thin line is, at the same time, 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," Kotak said

"Because when the team needs you to stay there for two-three overs, where runs actually don't matter, [you might need to temper your approach], but eventually I also sometimes feel they have only played a few matches, and they will learn. They are very fortunate to play in these conditions," he added.