'There cannot be a better call than that' - Former cricketer lauds Shubman Gill for his stance on Test cricket

India’s Test captain Shubman Gill has turned heads with a bold suggestion aimed at fixing Team India’s recent struggles in Test cricket. Disappointed with the way the team has been preparing before red-ball assignments, the captain has reportedly asked the BCCI to give his side a dedicated 15-day practice period ahead of every Test series.

The move has sparked a positive debate online, with many former cricketers lauding the 26-year-old captain. Robin Uthappa, while talking on his YouTube channel, showered praises on the youngster for his stance on Test cricket. He said that this indeed was the best call by the Indian skipper in light of the respect that the longest format of the game deserves. 

"I think it is an insane call from a leader. There cannot be a better call than that. He is taking charge of Test cricket in that sense. It is very good. Before a Test series, a team needs a preparation of at least two weeks. We are playing a Test series to win the WTC. So to win that, we cannot win by just playing Test cricket. You have to plan, prepare, and build. You need to give that respect to Test cricket as a board and a team. I am very happy that he brought it up", said Uthappa.

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Demands of formats are very different: Aakash Chopra

Uthappa is not the only one who has come on board to support Gill’s stance. Renowned commentator, Akash Chopra, too, has backed the right-hander batter for his special request. Chopra believes that the BCCI is not financially dependent on anyone and hence can afford to have a dedicated 15-day window ahead of any series instead of travelling across continents for white-ball commitments. 

"But if you look at the BCCI, they are a strong board and not financially dependent. India don't need three extra games. So if they wish to prepare well, then they can create a window. Preparation has been integral. So if Gill is saying this, find a window, prepare a window. It is unfortunate that they are jumping from one continent to another and playing different formats. The demands are also very different. If the preparation is not good and they fail, it's a function of them not preparing well as well", Chopra said via Backstage with Boria. 

India's red-ball struggles prompted Gill to rethink 

India’s form in the longest format has dipped alarmingly, especially in home conditions, over the last two years, with series whitewashes against New Zealand and South Africa, respectively. And this patchy run has prompted Gill to rethink and redesign how his team needs to prepare for the rigours of Tests. Gill wants his team to be well-prepared before any red-ball assignment, and is leaving no stone unturned with his special request to the BCCI for giving the team a 15-day window.

For the unversed, the Indian team is slated to play only five red-ball matches in 2026 — all of them coming in the second half of the year, with focus on the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which they will be co-hosting alongside Sri Lanka.