Calcutta: Gautam Gambhir, having made a comeback into the Indian squad, can hope for opportunities to regain his place in the team after India's batting coach Sanjay Bangar said on Thursday that the Delhi opener will have a crucial role to play in the Test team's long home season.

Injuries to Lokesh Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan have brought Gambhir back into the picture and he may even get to open the innings with Murali Vijay in the third and final Test against New Zealand in Indore, beginning Friday.

"Gautam Gambhir is a quality player... What he has done really well for the time he was out of the team was that he kept on performing for his IPL franchise and the state side. And when he got his opportunity in the Duleep Trophy, he was among the top run scorers, and that too against the pink ball which certain batsmen found difficult to pick. He has ticked all the boxes," Bangar said during a media conference in Indore.

"I think the untimely injury to Rahul and Dhawan makes it sure there is a place for him. He has a proven record against spin bowling. And the number of Test matches we are going to play in India, he becomes a very important player at the top of the order," Bangar explained.

In their long season at home, India will against England, Bangladesh (one off game) and Australia after the ongoing series against New Zealand .

When asked about Virat Kohli's lean patch in the series so far, Bangar said: "He had a tremendous tour of the West Indies where he hit a double hundred. Even in Jamaica he was batting well and the Trinidad game was rained off. If you look at it, his innings (of 45) in Calcutta was a match-defining one. India were tottering at 45 for four (in the second innings) when he and Rohit (Sharma) got together and stitched a brilliant partnership."

Meanwhile, New Zealand bowling coach Shane Jurgensen hinted that captain and prolific batsman Kane Willamson will play the final Test.

Williamson did a decent job in the Kanpur Test with scores of 75 and 25, but he missed the second rubber at the Eden due to illness.

"It's looking positive. A final confirmation on whether Kane will be back will probably be known tomorrow.

"He trained today and did some batting, having a decent hit and a run-around. We will have another look at him tomorrow, but we are definitely positive about his return," Jurgensen said on Thursday.

Jurgensen was also optimistic about all-rounder Jimmy Neesham, who missed the first two Tests due to a rib injury.