Published 2026-11-11 · By Vikram Bhatia (Executive Sports Editor · Ahmedabad Desk)

Gambhir Stays, Kotak & Morkel Head to Test Camp – Liberty Cricket Live Scores

At the toss of the third ODI in Ahmedabad, the on‑field umpires heard the board’s whisper: ‘The split begins now.’ A 12‑man core stayed with Gambhir, while Kotak and Morkel slipped into the Test‑camp bus. The new‑ball burst was already humming, but the real swing came off‑field.

Why the Coaching Split Makes Sense

The Ranji grind has left the Test bench starved of fresh eyes. Sitanshu Kotak, a batting coach who has coaxed the middle‑order out of a sticky red‑soil track in Mohali, is a specialist in building innings after the first 30 overs. Morne Morkel, with his skiddy hard‑length on the death, offers a pace‑variety that the current Test attack lacks.

Gautam Gambhir, meanwhile, is the only man who can marshal the limited‑overs squad through a middle‑overs choke. His own ODI batting average hovers around the 38‑mark, and he knows how to read a dew‑factor after 8:30 PM IST. The board’s logic is simple: keep the ODI engine humming under a leader who lives and breathes the format, while the Test engine gets a fresh spark.

‘We need continuity in the white‑ball set‑up,’ Kotak told reporters, his voice steady despite the stadium’s roar. ‘The Test side is on the brink of a series that could define the year. Our focus now is the 100‑overs marathon, not the 20‑over sprint.’

Test Prep vs ODI Momentum

In the past two months, India’s Test bowlers have been over‑bowling the death in the limited‑overs arena. The result? A 38‑run middle‑overs collapse against England that left fans muttering about ‘bowling at the death in a 50‑over game.’ By pulling Morkel into the Test camp, the board hopes to iron out that lethal over‑bowling habit and re‑calibrate the attack for swing‑friendly conditions in New Zealand.

Conversely, keeping Bahutule with the ODI side is a nod to spin‑dominance on sub‑continental pitches. The spinner’s ability to turn the ball on a hard, dusty surface has been a secret weapon in the last three white‑ball series. With the World Cup looming, the board isn’t willing to gamble on a spin coach who is half‑present.

Fans glued to liberty cricket live scores will notice a subtle shift in the boundary‑percentage metric over the next two weeks. Expect a marginal dip in strike‑rates as the batting unit settles under Kotak’s technical guidance, but a rise in run‑rate once the spin duo locks in.

What It Means for the Players

For the senior batsmen, the change is a double‑edged sword. Virat Kohli, who has been nursing a middle‑order slump, will now have to adapt to Kotak’s emphasis on ‘building innings after the 30‑over mark.’ That could mean more patient footwork, less reliance on the lofted cover drive, and a greater focus on rotating the strike.

Younger guns like Shubman Gill will relish the chance to work with a coach who spent the last season dissecting the technique of England’s openers. The “new‑ball burst” drills that Kotak pioneered in the nets are designed to make the batsmen uncomfortable against short‑pitched swing – a skill that will pay dividends on the green‑top wickets in England.

On the bowling front, Morkel’s presence is a morale boost. His experience of bowling at the death in IPL finals translates into a better understanding of how to deliver yorkers that skid off a dry pitch. The fast bowlers will now run through a series of “death‑over” simulations, sharpening their ability to hit the blockhole under pressure.

The Dressing‑Room Chatter

Inside the changing rooms, the mood is a mixture of optimism and caution. Senior players appreciate the clarity – “We know who’s in charge of what,” said an anonymous senior bowler. Yet, the junior cohort wonders whether the split will create a ‘two‑team’ syndrome, where the Test and ODI units drift apart in culture.

Gambhir, ever the pragmatist, addressed the squad: “Our job is to win the ODIs, not to worry about the Test selector’s calendar. Focus on the next 50 overs, run the chase, and the rest will sort itself.” His words rang true for the half‑dozen youngsters who are already eyeing a spot in the senior side.

Strategic Implications for the Upcoming Series

The upcoming Test series against South Africa is slated to start in two weeks. The selection committee has hinted at a four‑bowler line‑up that includes Morkel, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and a surprise debutant from the Ranji circuit. If the new‑ball burst proves effective, the south‑African batsmen will have to negotiate a seaming red‑soil track that behaves like a wet wadding after 20 overs.

Meanwhile, the ODI squad will face England in a three‑match series that will be broadcast live on the India‑TV network. The team’s middle‑overs choke against England last season was a glaring flaw. With Bahutule’s spin plans in place, the side hopes to exploit the 11‑inch seam‑height advantage that the Indian pitches traditionally offer.

Final Verdict

The split is not a knee‑jerk reaction; it is a calculated move that acknowledges the divergent skill‑sets required for Tests and ODIs. It may leave some fans scratching their heads when they check liberty cricket live scores and see a dip in the ODI run‑rate, but the long‑term gain could be a more resilient Test side that finally breaks the 100‑run partnership barrier against quality attacks.

Cricket, after all, is a game of adjustments. The board has adjusted its coaching roster. Now it’s up to the players to adjust their techniques, and up to the fans to adjust their expectations. The next few weeks will tell whether this tactical shuffle pays off or merely adds another layer to the ever‑spinning narrative of Indian cricket.

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