Following India’s defeat in the two-match Test series against South Africa at home, Shubman Gill has played an active role in addressing the team’s red-ball struggles. The Test captain has proposed better preparation methods and asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to organize red-ball training camps.
After a 0-3 defeat to New Zealand in 2024, India suffered a 0-2 defeat against South Africa, their second home Test whitewash in the span of a year. The setbacks have compounded the issues, with the team being under-prepared heading into the Test series due to a busy schedule and a lack of red-ball specialists.
Due to tight schedule, India was not ready for the Test under the leadership of Shubman Gill.
The Indian team has often gone straight from white-ball cricket to Test series with very little gap. India begin their home season with a two-match Test series against the West Indies, just three days after concluding the 2025 Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates. The players had almost no time to get back to red-ball cricket.
The same issue was raised before the South Africa series also. India began the Tests only five days after returning from the white-ball tour of Australia. In contrast, South Africa arrived after playing a Test series in Pakistan, which helped them adjust well to the conditions in the subcontinent.
The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy began with a 2-2 draw in England under the captaincy of Shubman Gill. After this India completed a clean sweep against West Indies. However, a 0-2 home defeat to South Africa has damaged India’s standing midway through the World Test Championship cycle.
BCCI held important meetings amid the possibility of Shubman Gill getting a bigger role in Test team planning.
According to a report in Times of India, BCCI held informal discussions with the selectors and the team leadership. Shubman Gill stressed on better preparation before the Test series and suggested a 15-day red-ball camp before each Test assignment.
“Gill was very clear that the team needed better preparation before going into the Test series. There was an issue with the travel schedule this season, where the team did not have much time to prepare. Gill recommended to the board that it would be ideal if there was a 15-day red-ball camp before the Test series,” a BCCI source told TOI.
The BCCI is now ready to give him more influence over planning and team building. With the Test and ODI teams now under their wing, the board feels it is important for the young captain to have a bigger voice as India looks to rebuild in the longest format.
“Gill is now showing vocal qualities. He is presenting his views with greater clarity to the selectors and the BCCI. This is a good sign for Indian cricket as it needs a strong captain after Rohit Sharma. The Test and ODI teams are Gill’s. It is important for him to have a big say,” the source said.
BCCI eyes center of excellence as red-ball camp solution amid scheduling challenges
The BCCI admitted that it is difficult to run a red-ball camp with the entire national coaching staff due to the heavy white-ball schedule. However, the board is considering the VVS Laxman-led Center of Excellence and its support staff as a viable option to help with red-ball preparations.
The source further added, “There could be instances where Gambhir will be busy with the white-ball teams, even with the Test series round the corner. The board may utilize the services of CoE cricket chief VVS Laxman to organize a red-ball camp.”
India will next play Test cricket in August 2026, when they tour Sri Lanka for a two-match series. Shubhman Gill will lead the team in red-ball assignments.
After nine Tests in the current cycle, India are placed sixth in the World Test Championship standings and will be looking to improve their position.
Also read: Shubman Gill saved Rishabh Pant from being dropped from the ODI team by stopping Ishan Kishan’s return! Shocking information came to light
