Ahmedabad, Oct 2 (NationPress) As India kicks off its home Test season, captain Shubman Gill emphasized that his team is committed to playing ‘hard, grinding cricket’ instead of seeking rapid victories within just a few days.

The current series against the West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad marks Gill's inaugural assignment as India’s Test captain at home for the new World Test Championship cycle.

“Our strategy is straightforward—hard, grinding cricket. We don’t aim to secure wins in 2–3 days. We are confident in our four premier spinners—Kuldeep, Jadeja, Axar, and Washi. Any team visiting India faces two key challenges: spin and reverse swing. We plan to challenge our opponents in both areas, while our primary focus remains on playing quality cricket. We prioritize winning every series over the WTC. Yet, it would be a letdown if such a strong team fails to qualify,” Gill shared on JioHotstar.

When asked about adjusting to the Test surfaces from England to his home ground, Gill responded, “It’s been a while since we played on spinning tracks. Other teams are aware of our strengths and weaknesses. On these pitches, if a spinner consistently bowls at 90–95 kph, any batsman will face difficulties. New Zealand had a head start by playing spin-friendly pitches in Sri Lanka before arriving here, while we didn’t.”

The 2025 season has been a remarkable year for Gill—after being appointed as India’s Test captain following Rohit Sharma’s retirement, he concluded the five-match tour of England with 754 runs, the second-highest tally for a captain in a Test series, including four centuries at an average of 75.4.

Reflecting on his struggles to score runs outside India in Tests, Gill discussed how he modified his batting approach, seeking insights from Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Smith. “I certainly felt the pressure of my subpar overseas record. However, my preparation gave me confidence. Even if doubts crept in just before a match, once on the field, all that vanished, and I concentrated on the task at hand.

“I consulted many players who excelled in England. They all mentioned that scoring runs square of the wicket was crucial. Initially, we misinterpreted that to mean playing outside balls. Then we decided to leave the outside balls alone. I simplified my approach: I wouldn’t drive early; I would defend on the front foot and let it go.

“After 30–40 balls, the Dukes ball softens, making run-scoring easier. With a fast outfield, timing the ball leads to boundaries. Hence, at the start, unless it was a half-volley, I avoided cover drives, focusing instead on straight drives, flicks, cuts, and punches, only playing the cover drive once I was confident the ball had stopped swinging or seaming.

“Before departing, I spoke to Sachin sir and obtained Steve Smith’s number from Matthew Wade to consult him. Both reiterated the same advice—defend straight and score square. I believe this has been one of my best years, but I aspire for 2026 and 2027 to surpass it. As a player, you always hope the coming years will be even better,” he concluded.