In Ahmedabad, with overcast conditions looming, Team India captain Shubman Gill hinted at a strategic shift for the first Test against West Indies, beginning Thursday at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The final playing XI will be decided tomorrow after assessing the pitch’s moisture, but the weather makes playing an additional seamer quite tempting.
Gill acknowledged that transitioning from the recent Asia Cup victory to Test cricket poses a mental challenge for the players, rather than a technical one. He remarked, “It was a quick turnaround for this Test. I was looking to get in the zone; switching formats is more mental than technical.”
Regarding the star pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s return, Gill stated that his inclusion would be evaluated on a match-by-match basis, considering his bowling workload in each Test and the bowlers’ overall fitness. No definitive decision has been made yet.
Addressing his own busy schedule, Gill prefers to manage his workload week by week, avoiding long-term projections. He emphasized that for batsmen, the fatigue is primarily mental, unlike the physical strain experienced by bowlers. Currently, he feels fresh and ready for the challenge.
The 26-year-old captain also sent a clear message to the West Indies, asserting that his team is prepared to play “tough cricket” throughout the two-match Test series. “No easy options… we want to play tough cricket. Every Test in England went deep. We are ready to play that tough cricket. We are playing in India after a year; any series is important. We will be looking to dominate the series,” he affirmed.
Finally, commenting on the playing surface, Gill expressed India’s preference for balanced wickets: “Any team that comes to India knows the challenge here is spin and reverse swing. We want wickets that give something for both batters and bowlers.”