Fresh off a grueling Indian Premier League campaign, Indian captain Shubman Gill is quickly shifting his focus back to the traditional format of the game. Just days after leading the Gujarat Titans to a runners-up finish in the IPL 2026 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the young skipper has arrived in New Chandigarh to lead a transition-phase Indian squad.
Leading his country on his actual home turf adds a fairytale element to the upcoming assignment for the 26-year-old batting maestro. Speaking to BCCI.tv ahead of the match, the Indian captain opened up about his deep-rooted passion for the longest format and the pride of leading the national team at the venue where his cricketing journey began.
“For me, this is the most satisfying format out of the three. If you do well in this format, that’s when I feel the best about myself. The feeling of wearing the whites and the baggy cap—nothing beats that. It’s the traditional way, the OG way of playing cricket. To be able to lead my country is a huge privilege. I always dreamt of playing for India, let alone captaining the team. To do it here at my home ground, where I grew up playing cricket, makes it even more special,” Gill said.
The team has spent the last three days sweating it out in Mullanpur, battling soaring daytime temperatures to get reacquainted with the red ball and adjust their sleep cycles after two months of late-night T20 action.
SHUBMAN GILL: FROM IPL 2026 TO TEST AGAIN
The transition from the high-octane environment of franchise cricket to the patient demands of five-day cricket is no small feat. Gill enters the Test match in scorching individual form, having amassed a staggering 732 runs at an average of 45.75 and a strike rate of 163.02 during IPL 2026, a campaign highlighted by a magnificent 53-ball 104. However, the captain emphasised that the true test in New Chandigarh will be a mental battle against the elements rather than just a technical reset.
“The weather is very different. If you play T20s at night, it’s almost 40 degrees here during the day. There is a significant mental challenge that comes into play, apart from all the technical adjustments you need to make to adapt to this format. That’s what makes Test cricket so great and why it earns so much respect around the world,” Gill said.
With premium fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah rested and Rishabh Pant relieved of vice-captaincy duties, a revamped leadership group takes charge. KL Rahul steps in as Gill’s deputy for a squad that introduces a wave of fresh domestic talent, including uncapped call-ups like Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar, Manav Suthar, and Prince Yadav. Gill expressed immense confidence in the new faces, noting his existing chemistry with them from the domestic pathway.
“I’ve played with most of these players quite a lot in the India A setup. Whenever we’ve had overseas tours or practice matches, whether in England or Australia, I’ve shared the field with many of them. They are very exciting young talents and hopefully they will go on to represent and serve the country for a very long time,” Gill said.
WHY IS INDIA’S ONE-OFF TEST VS AFG IMPORTANT?
While this standalone match does not carry points for the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, its context remains vital for a struggling Indian team. India currently finds themselves languishing in an unfamiliar sixth position in the WTC standings, having managed only four wins from their first nine matches.
With an incredibly demanding schedule looming on the horizon—including a two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in August, a home assignment against New Zealand in October, and a massive five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia—this match serves as a crucial incubator for building squad depth and finding form.
Furthermore, Afghanistan presents a completely different challenge than they did during their inaugural Test match in Bengaluru eight years ago. Gill warned against any complacency, acknowledging the visitors’ massive strides on the international circuit.
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