In a decisive move following India’s recent struggles in the Test series, captain Shubman Gill has proposed a major change in team preparation. He is requesting mandatory 15-day training camps before every red-ball assignment. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has responded positively, showing a willingness to give the young captain a larger role in future planning as the team seeks to rebuild.
Shubman Gill Pushes BCCI for 15-Day Test Prep Camps
This change comes after a disappointing 2-0 home defeat against South Africa in November 2025. This loss marked India’s second comprehensive home defeat in just over a year, following a similar loss to New Zealand in 2024. The defeat included a record 408-run loss in Guwahati, which is India’s heaviest Test defeat by runs.
A Call for Structured Red-Ball Preparation
According to sources within the board, Shubman Gill emphasized that the team’s packed schedule did not allow enough time for proper Test preparation. The series against South Africa began just four days after the end of a five-match T20I series against Australia, leaving players little time to transition between formats.
“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 said. The captain’s push highlights growing concern about the team’s readiness for the longest format, especially after the high-profile retirements of key players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin.
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