Ahmedabad – Shubman Gill says India have no appetite for shortcuts as they begin a two-Test series against West Indies, their first home Tests since last year’s 3-0 defeat by New Zealand. “We are looking to play some hard, grinding cricket … we won’t be looking for any easy options,” the opener told reporters at Motera.
India’s selectors resisted calls for wholesale change after the New Zealand reverse, yet the series still feels significant. Lose again and the home aura takes another dent; win well and a line can be drawn under an uncomfortable winter.
Pitch debate returns
Home surfaces were again under scrutiny after England drew 2-2 here earlier this year. Commentator Aakash Chopra said he “hope[s] India don’t prepare rank turners”, while former pacer Varun Aaron does not expect “a knee-jerk reaction” to last season’s loss. Gill himself struck a measured tone. “I can’t speak about the conversations before I came, but we would be looking to play on wickets that offer [something] to both the batsmen and to the bowlers,” he said.
He accepted that any touring side in India must still confront spin and reverse swing. “These are the two things that, if teams can play spin well and if they can challenge the reverse swing, they are going to get good success.”
Spin-pace balance
Two days out, Motera’s surface looked greener than usual, prompting speculation that India might again stack their attack with quick bowlers as they did in England. Gill was cautious. “The weather and wickets we have in India, it will be difficult to follow that template … Someone like Kuldeep, such a wicket-taker for us in all formats, didn’t get a chance to play in England, which was very unfortunate.”
Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar give the hosts three frontline spin options, yet going with all four could compromise batting depth. Gill acknowledged the dilemma: “You have to just weigh in your options, what can give you a bit more.”
Bumrah’s workload
Jasprit Bumrah, managed carefully during the England tour, is available, but nothing is settled beyond Friday. “We’re going to take a call on a match-to-match basis depending on how long a Test match goes on and how many overs our fast bowlers bowl,” Gill said. “Nothing is pre-decided. We’re going to take the call once the Test match is ove”
The unfinished sentence raised a smile in the press room, yet the sentiment was clear: India will not risk their premier fast bowler unless conditions and context demand it.
Why this series matters
Being thrashed 3-0 at home remains fresh in memory, and Gill did not hide its importance. “It’s very important,” he admitted. Victory would also bolster India’s World Test Championship standing.
West Indies arrive with recent success in Australia and a battery of quicks well-suited to any extra grass on the pitch, but lack the depth that once defined Caribbean touring sides. The hosts still start favourites; the question is whether they can deliver the “good, hard, grinding cricket” their vice-captain has promised, on surfaces that test both teams rather than only visiting batsmen.
Either way, a compelling fortnight beckons.
