Shubman Gill pushes 15-day prep camps to rebuild India’s Test dominance

Young Test captain proposes structured pre-series camps after home whitewash setbacks; BCCI, selectors and team management back the move

After back-to-back home Test series whitewashes against New Zealand and South Africa left Indian cricket searching for direction, Test captain Shubman Gill has come forward with a clear roadmap to strengthen the longest format. The young leader has proposed a 15-day preparatory camp ahead of every Test series, a move that has found strong backing from the BCCI, selectors and the team management.

Gill, who took over the Test leadership after Rohit Sharma, has steadily grown into the role. In the nine Tests he has captained so far, he has shown maturity by learning from both victories and defeats, treating outcomes with balance and focusing on long-term improvement. His latest suggestion reflects that evolving leadership approach.

Also Read:English batter Joe Root eyes Sachin Tendulkar’s untouchable Test throne

Under the proposed policy, players will assemble well before a Test series for an intensive camp focusing on batting, bowling, fielding and fitness. The idea is to give coaches enough time to assess each player’s strengths and weaknesses, fine-tune techniques and build mental readiness. Officials believe this will help raise confidence levels and provide clarity on player roles before high-pressure matches.

The camps are also expected to help coaches plan strategies in advance, reducing confusion during matches. Challenging training sessions during the camp will aim to prepare players to handle pressure, recover from setbacks and improve technical flaws before facing opponents in competitive conditions.

The concept is not entirely new. A similar preparatory camp culture was introduced during Sourav Ganguly’s tenure as India’s captain, with major camps held at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. That phase played a key role in India becoming a stronger overseas Test side, capable of competing fiercely in Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand.

Also Read:Shikhar Dhawan set for second marriage, to tie the knot with Sophie Shine in February

With Gill now advocating an updated version of this “old-school” approach, Indian cricket officials believe structured preparation could be the key to avoiding repeat disappointments and restoring consistency in Test cricket.