New Delhi, Oct 9 (NationPress) Following the conclusion of the Tests against the West Indies, Shubman Gill is set to engage in a demanding schedule, participating in all formats for India. He will either serve as captain in Tests and ODIs or as vice-captain in T20Is.

After the West Indies series, Gill will face a rigorous itinerary, with only four days to prepare before embarking on a journey that involves transitioning between various cities and countries.

Starting from October 15, when the Indian squad departs for a white-ball tour of Australia until December 19, when the all-format series against South Africa concludes, Gill will be in constant motion. He will captain India in ODIs against Australia followed by five T20Is.

Upon returning to India, he will lead in two Tests and three ODIs against South Africa, culminating in a five-match T20I series against the same team. At just 26, Gill is not only India’s newly appointed ODI captain but also an emerging Test leader, uniquely positioned as the only specialist batter across all formats in the current lineup.

His upcoming six-week schedule raises concerns about the physical and mental strain it may impose on him, and how he can prevent burnout. Nevertheless, true to his resilient character, Gill expressed readiness to tackle this demanding workload in pursuit of his goal: to excel in all formats for India and secure ICC titles.

“Physically, I usually feel good. However, there are moments of mental fatigue as expectations from myself are high. Meeting my own standards can be challenging at times,” Gill stated during the pre-match press conference ahead of the second Test against the West Indies, set to begin at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday.

Since May, Gill’s career has been on an upward trajectory – his appointment as Test captain coincided with a shift to batting at number four and accumulating 754 runs during the five-match tour of England, which ended in a 2-2 draw. With his elevation to ODI captaincy and prior experience as IPL captain for the Gujarat Titans, Gill acknowledges the distinct challenges each format entails, particularly in terms of leadership.

“In Test matches, the better team ultimately prevails, as there are more chances for a comeback. Conversely, in T20, a few overs of poor performance can lead to a swift exit from the game,” he explained.

“Winning a Test match reflects consistent performance over several days, not just a few hours. The challenge lies in maintaining superiority throughout the five days.”

Gill’s collaboration with head coach Gautam Gambhir has been pivotal in this transition period. Together, they are focused on guiding the team's direction, especially with a mutual interest in developing fast bowlers for future competitions.

“We share a strong rapport and consistently discuss how to enhance player security and explore optimal combinations. We aim for a squad of 15-18 players, from which we can regularly select,” he mentioned.

“A critical aspect of our discussions is nurturing our fast bowlers. We possess a talented pool and aim to provide them with ample opportunities.”

As India approaches the Test series against the West Indies, especially following their participation in high-stakes tournaments like the Asia Cup, Gill emphasized that the team’s intensity must remain unwavering, particularly since this series is part of the World Test Championship (WTC).

“Your intensity should not wane based on the opponent. It’s crucial to play with our own intensity, regardless of whether we face West Indies, Bangladesh, Australia, or England. We strive to uphold our standards,” he concluded.