Amid Poor Test Form, Gill Asks BCCI For Longer Preparation Period

India's Test captain, Shubman Gill, has made a bold and widely praised demand to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), requesting a mandatory 15-day preparatory window before every overseas Test series. The call comes amid India's prolonged struggles in the longest format, with recent series defeats against New Zealand, Australia, and England pushing the team to the brink of elimination from the World Test Championship (WTC) race. Gill's insistence on structured preparation has been hailed as a decisive step toward reviving India's Test fortunes.

Former India batter Robin Uthappa described Gill's demand as an "insane call" in the most positive sense, praising the young leader for taking full ownership of Test cricket. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Uthappa said, "There cannot be a better call than that. He is taking charge of Test cricket in that sense. Before a test series, a team needs a preparation of at least two weeks. We are playing the 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."

Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra also backed Gill's proposal, emphasizing India's financial strength and independence as a board. "We are a strong board and not financially dependent. We don't need three extra games. So if we wish to prepare well, then we can create a window," Chopra said on 'Backstage with Boria.' He pointed out that frequent hopping between continents and formats, combined with inadequate preparation, has contributed to India's recent failures abroad. "If the preparation is not good and they fail, it's a function of you not preparing well as well," he added.

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Gill's request highlights a growing consensus among former players and analysts that India's packed international calendar and rapid format switches have left little room for meaningful red-ball preparation. The 15-day window would allow the team to acclimatize to conditions, work on specific skills, and build match readiness—elements often cited as missing in recent overseas campaigns.

The proposal has sparked widespread discussion in Indian cricket circles, with many viewing it as a mature and forward-thinking move from a young captain determined to arrest the decline in Test performances. Whether the BCCI will accommodate the request amid its busy schedule remains to be seen, but Gill's stand has already earned admiration for showing leadership and respect for the traditional format.

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