Kolkata, Nov 13 (UNI) India captain Shubman Gill said his side is ready for a fierce contest against South Africa in the upcoming two-Test series, calling the matches crucial in India’s bid to secure a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Speaking ahead of the first Test beginning Friday at Eden Gardens, here, Gill acknowledged the strength and balance of the South African team, which recently clinched the WTC title.
“We know it won’t be easy against South Africa. There will be tough moments, but we’ve handled them before. These two Tests are important in the WTC race,” he said.
The 26-year-old, who is leading India in Tests for the first time at home, said the team is focused on maintaining composure and consistency in a series expected to test both skill and temperament. “Every session will matter against a side like South Africa. It’s about staying disciplined and making the right calls at the right time,” Gill added.
While India’s batting order appears settled, the composition of the bowling attack remains under wraps, with the team yet to decide between wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and allrounder Axar Patel for the opening game. Gill refrained from revealing details, keeping the suspense alive until match day.
“Let’s leave that one for tomorrow. I think once we come tomorrow, see how the wicket looks in the morning, we are going to take a decision on what kind of combination would give us the best chance to win this Test match,” he said.
The Eden Gardens surface is expected to offer carry and bounce, conditions that could influence India’s final combination. Gill confirmed that the Playing XI is “more or less finalised” but said the team would wait to take a final call based on the morning pitch assessment.
Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, meanwhile, confirmed that young wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel will feature in India’s XI after his stellar performances in the India A series against South Africa A, where he scored centuries in both innings. However, allrounder Nitish Reddy has been released from the Test squad and will instead join the India A side for the unofficial One-Day series in Rajkot.
Gill also addressed the omission of veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, acknowledging it as one of the most difficult decisions for the selectors and team management.
“Not many bowlers are of his quality. But the ones playing have done a terrific job. Sometimes it’s difficult for players like Shami bhai to miss out. The selectors will be able to give you a better answer to that,” the skipper said.
Reflecting on his growing leadership responsibilities across formats, Gill admitted that managing the workload as captain has been challenging.
“I am still trying to figure out how to manage it. From the Asia Cup onwards, we’ve been playing continuously, travelling between countries and formats within days. The challenge is more mental than physical,” he said.
As India look to start their WTC campaign on a strong note, Gill’s measured tone reflected both respect for the opponents and quiet confidence in his team’s preparation.
