India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has hinted that key batters will be rested in the last few white-ball games ahead of the two-match Test series against New Zealand. India will play five T20Is and as many ODIs ahead of the red-ball series against the Kiwis.

There is no doubt that it is going to be a challenging Test series for the Indian team as experienced players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin have announced their retirements.

The first Test in Wellington begins on November 19, just three days after the fifth and final ODI against New Zealand in Tauranga.

“Often for Test match preparation, you will have to give your batters a break as well from the white-ball to move into Test cricket, because coming from T20 to one-day cricket is easy,” Gambhir told JioStar ahead of India’s home season.

The former Indian opener admitted that the all-format players will decline in the future with T20 format ruling the cricketing calendar.

“Look, ideally for any coach it is very important that as many players play all three formats, the better it is, because continuity in international cricket is very important,” he said.

“So, as much as the coach wants, as much as the selectors want, whatever they do, you will have very few three-format players in the coming times, because you will have to keep rotating your players, whether they are spin bowlers or fast bowlers.”

Reflecting on his time in charge, Gambhir admitted that the journey has had its share of highs and lows. “I think I’ve had my own share of ups and downs, I think I’ve had my own failures and success. But again, I’ve always believed that when you take up that kind of a responsibility, there will always be ups and downs.”

India will play the first ODI against the West Indies on Sunday.