India’s road to the World Test Championship 2027 is looking tougher by the day and Shubman Gill knows it. Barely settled into his role as India’s new Test captain, Shubman Gill has already begun pushing for changes that he believes are crucial to keeping the team competitive in the longest format. With India’s qualification hopes hanging by a thread, the 26-year-old has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to rethink how the team prepares for Test cricket.
According to a report published on Monday, January 5, Shubman Gill has suggested that India should hold a dedicated 15-day red-ball camp before the start of every Test series. The idea came up during informal discussions among Shubman Gill, the selectors and the BCCI, where he reportedly stressed that the team has not been getting enough time to prepare properly before entering demanding Test assignments.
Shubman Gill, who took over the Test captaincy following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format, feels that structured preparation is no longer optional. He believes extended training camps focused purely on red-ball cricket would help players switch mindsets and be better equipped for Test conditions. A BCCI source revealed that Shubman Gill was clear and direct in expressing his concerns, pointing out that the current schedules often leave players rushing from one format to another without adequate preparation.
Recent examples have only strengthened his case. While India did get some preparation time ahead of the Test series in England last year, the situation was far from ideal later in the season. There were just four days between the Asia Cup final in Dubai on September 28, 2025, and the start of the Test series against the West Indies in Ahmedabad on October 2. A similar issue arose in November, when only six days separated the end of the T20I series in Australia on November 8 in Brisbane and the opening Test against South Africa in Kolkata on November 14.
The BCCI source added that Shubman Gill is showing strong leadership traits early in his captaincy. He is reportedly more assertive now, clearly sharing his vision with both the selectors and the board. This, according to those in the system, is a positive sign for Indian cricket, especially at a time when the team is transitioning after Rohit Sharma’s exit. With Shubman Gill leading both the Test and ODI sides, it is expected that he will play a bigger role in shaping long-term plans.
India’s recent performances explain the urgency behind Shubman Gill’s request. The team suffered a shocking 0–2 defeat at home against South Africa in November 2025. That series loss against the reigning World Test Championship winners has badly dented India’s chances of finishing in the top two of the WTC 2025–27 cycle.
Although India are still mathematically in contention for a place in the WTC 2027 final, the path ahead is extremely challenging. They need to win at least seven of their remaining nine Test matches. Four of those games will be played overseas against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, while the remaining five are at home against world number one Test side Australia. For Shubman Gill, better preparation may be the only way to turn slim hope into real belief.
