Ravi Shastri knows what wins Test matches in New Zealand. Grunt work. Discipline. Long, unglamorous spells into howling southerly gales.
Speaking on Sony Sports Network, the former India head coach singled out 25-year-old seamer Anshul Kamboj as the secret weapon for India's upcoming two-Test assignment against the Black Caps, which opens in Wellington on November 19. India selected five specialist quicks in their 16-member touring contingent: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, and Kamboj. While Bumrah and Siraj headline the frontline attack, Shastri expects the Chennai Super Kings pacer to handle the heavy lifting.
India need a bowler who can pin down an end when conditions turn harsh. Shastri pointed directly to Kamboj's extensive domestic grind with Haryana as proof that the right-armer possesses the stamina and temperament for conditions in the antipodes.
Ball movement matters in New Zealand, but relentlessness matters more.
In a country like New Zealand, in Test match cricket, you will need a workhorse, and I think he is the man who could be your workhorse — someone like a Kamboj, who can come and bowl you those 15 overs and block one end up, especially when the going gets tough, when it's very windy and things of that sort," Shastri stated.
Kamboj brings more than stubborn control. He attacks the splice. Shastri highlighted the pacer's knack for hitting the bat hard, extracting seam movement in both directions, and chipping in with vital runs down the order.
He comes across as a bloke who has done a lot of bowling in domestic cricket for Haryana and across formats. I think he will be very useful in these conditions. Sometimes you have got to pick blokes as horses for courses. He is the kind of guy who hits the bat. He is accurate," Shastri added.
Kamboj's road back to the red-ball setup required grit. His Test debut against England proved brutal, leaking 89 runs across 18 overs for a single scalp before selectors shelved him. Yet the 25-year-old rebuilt his standing through the ongoing tour.
Having made his ODI debut against the West Indies on October 3, 2026, Kamboj seized his chance in New Zealand. He took 2 for 22 in the tour opener at Auckland on November 4 to capture Player of the Match honors. Three days later in Wellington, he grabbed 2 for 25. Alongside fellow quick Gurnoor Brar, Kamboj blew games open during middle overs where Indian captains typically rely on spin, pushing the visitors to an emphatic 2-0 series lead.
| Match / Format | Opponent | Venue / Date | Figures / Impact | Match Context |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test Debut | England | Past Series | 1/89 (18 overs) | Dropped after debut |
| ODI Debut | West Indies | October 3, 2026 | White-ball entry | Transition to touring squad |
| 1st ODI | New Zealand | Auckland (Nov 4) |
The Tactical Blueprint: Red-ball depth away from the subcontinent requires bowlers who exploit seam rather than bounce alone. Shastri framed Kamboj as part of an expanding reserve pool built specifically for overseas tours across New Zealand, South Africa, and England, where late movement off the deck exposes technical flaws.
More importantly, if there is something there in the surface, the ball will nibble, he hits the bat, and he can get the ball to go both ways and surprise the batter. I think a welcome addition. You have got to build your bench strength as a fast bowling unit, and I think he is one of them. For New Zealand, South Africa, and England, he becomes a good choice," Shastri noted.
Shastri also underlined his batting ability as an asset that strengthens the lower order during tight sessions. All eyes now shift to Wellington's Basin Reserve on November 19, where India launch the two-match Test series against the Black Caps.
| 2/22 |
| Player of the Match |
| 2nd ODI | New Zealand | Wellington (Nov 7) | 2/25 | India sealed 2-0 series lead |