India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill has offered a key advice to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the betterment of red-ball team.
According to a report published in TOI, Gill suggested the board to organise a 15-day camp for Indian players prior to every Test series.
Notably, Indian players didn’t get enough time to prepare for the home Test assignments against West Indies and South Africa last year. The two-Test series against West Indies got underway on October 2 and many players reached India just four days ahead of the campaign after playing Asia Cup 2025 in UAE.
Similarly, Gill and several other Test players arrived in India from Australia just four days ahead of the South Africa series in November. The Proteas inflicted a 2-0 clean sweep on India, winning Test matches in Kolkata and Guwahati.
After the debacle, the BCCI carried out informal meetings with selectors and the leadership group as the team endured two Test whitewashes in a span of 13 months. Last year, New Zealand crushed India 3-0 in a home Test series, which hampered their chances of making it to the WTC 2023-25 final.
In the meeting, Gill suggested the board to conduct 15-day camps ahead of every Test series, which will give players adequate preparation time.
“Gill was very clear that the team needed better preparation before going into a Test series. There was an issue with the itinerary this season where the team didn’t have much time to prepare. Gill recommended to the Board that it would be ideal if there were 15-day red-ball camps before a Test series,” a BCCI source told TOI.
“Gill is showing assertive qualities now. He is presenting his vision to the selectors and BCCI with a lot more clarity. It augurs well for Indian cricket as there is a need for a strong captain after Rohit Sharma. The Test and ODI teams are Gill’s. It is important for him to have a bigger say,” he added.
India's schedule in 2026 is also jam-packed with many white-ball series on the cards. Hence, it will be a difficult task to organise a 15-day camp.
The report also stated that the BCCI might approach CoE chief VVS Laxman for organising the camp as regular head coach Gautam Gambhir will be busy with white-ball teams.
"There may be instances where Gambhir will be busy with white-ball teams even as there may be a Test series approaching. The Board may use the services of CoE cricket head VVS Laxman to organise red-ball camps," said the source.
(With TOI Inputs)
