Shubman Gill wants 15-day camps prior to every Test series

NEW DELHI: With India suffering an embarrassing 0-2 loss at home against South Africa, TOI learnt that Test captain Shubman Gill suggested to the Indian cricket board (BCCI) that there should be 15-day camps before every Test series.

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The BCCI held informal meetings with selectors and the leadership group of the team after it was whitewashed twice in home Test series in the space of 13 months. “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.




India went into the last home Test season 4 days after winning the Asia Cup. India played West Indies in a Test match on October 2, with players arriving from Dubai on September 29. Gill and a lot of Test specialists reached India after a whiteball tour of Australia 4 days before the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata.

TOI understands that the BCCI is willing to let Gill have a greater say in drawing up plans for the team. “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,” the source told BCCI.


However, India’s choc-abloc calendar may not make it easy to plan 15-day camps every time.

The BCCI source said it may have to utilise its coaching staff and facilities at the centre of excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. “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,” the source said.