India captain Shubman Gill announced on Wednesday that his squad intends to wear down opponents on spin-friendly surfaces as the team opens its home season with two Tests against the West Indies. The first match begins on Thursday at Ahmedabad's stadium, the world's largest cricket venue, with India heavily favored to sweep the series. Gill leads a youthful Indian side that earned a 2-2 draw against England in a five-Test series that ended in August, marking his debut as captain following the retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin.
The 26-year-old acknowledged that Indian pitches create unique difficulties for visiting teams. He noted that recent Tests in India typically finish before the fifth day, unlike matches in England that extended deeper into scheduled play. Gill emphasized that the team possesses the ability to compete on any surface, rejecting shortcuts while preparing balanced wickets that challenge both batsmen and bowlers with spin and reverse swing.
The 26-year-old acknowledged that Indian pitches create unique difficulties for visiting teams. He noted that recent Tests in India typically finish before the fifth day, unlike matches in England that extended deeper into scheduled play. Gill emphasized that the team possesses the ability to compete on any surface, rejecting shortcuts while preparing balanced wickets that challenge both batsmen and bowlers with spin and reverse swing.
