Shubman Gill Urges BCCI to Rethink Packed Schedule Ahead of Test Series

India’s packed international calendar has once again come under scrutiny, this time from within the leadership group, with Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill urging the BCCI to rethink scheduling patterns that leave little room for red-ball preparation.

Speaking on the eve of India’s first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara, Gill reflected on a series of transitions over the past year that forced players to move abruptly from white-ball cricket in overseas conditions to home Test matches within days. 

He pointed to recent examples where India finished limited-overs assignments abroad and were back in action in Test cricket almost immediately, a pattern he believes has contributed to inadequate preparation and, ultimately, poor results.

“Preparation Is Really Big” – The Challenge Of Switching Formats

“One of the suggestions that I was very keen on is, if you would see in the last two Test series that we played, we didn’t have that much time to prepare,” Gill said. “It’s not easy playing another match in a different country and then playing in India on the fourth day. Especially when you’re traveling on long tours.”

India’s 2-0 home Test defeat to South Africa earlier this year brought the issue into sharper focus. It was their second home whitewash in 12 months, an extraordinary statistic for a side that went 12 years without losing a Test series on home soil. Gill was clear that the outcome went beyond tactics or form, suggesting the structural challenges of the calendar played a role.

“I feel even if we would have won the series against South Africa, it still wouldn’t have made that much of a difference,” he said. “We know we need to prepare well to be able to win Test matches all over the world. Preparation for me is really big.”

Gill stressed that the difficulty is amplified when switching formats, particularly from white-ball cricket to the demands of Test matches. He believes even a modest extension between series could have a meaningful impact on readiness and confidence.

Managing Workload Amid A Relentless Schedule

“I think it’s important to at least have some bit of preparation, some time,” he said. “Especially when changing from white-ball format to red-ball. So this was one of the things that I was very keen on, and I think we’ll take some action and we’ll keep it in mind to be able to prepare well before the start of any red-ball series.”

The conversation also touched on workload management and player rotation. While India recently went more than three weeks without an international fixture, Gill acknowledged that such gaps often come after extended periods of relentless cricket, resulting in an uneven rhythm rather than sustained recovery.

“Maybe it would be easier to have a little loose calendar,” Gill said. “Maybe it’s easier to play a match on the 10th day. Maybe it’s easier to play a match on the 12th day. It gives a bit of breather for the players as well, and it gives you that time to prepare and feel confident for the next series.”

Gill’s comments carry added weight given his own recent run of events. Over the past year, he has been one of the few Indian players consistently featuring across all three formats. During the first Test against South Africa, he picked up a neck injury that limited his effectiveness and left India effectively playing a man short. 

He missed the subsequent ODI series and was later omitted from the T20 World Cup squad, shortly after being named vice-captain in the format.

Despite those setbacks, Gill struck a composed note about his personal journey, even as the Test defeats continue to linger.

“I believe I am right where I have to be in my life,” he said. “Whatever is in my destiny, nobody can take it away from me. Obviously, as a player, you believe that if you play the World Cup, you can win it for your team, for your country. Having said that, I respected the selectors’ decision.”

As India looks ahead to another demanding cycle across formats, Gill’s remarks underline a growing recognition that preparation time, not just talent or depth, could be the decisive factor in restoring their dominance in Test cricket.