New Delhi, Oct 14 (NationPress) Shubman Gill, the captain of India, expressed that it is a significant privilege to lead the Test team after achieving his inaugural series victory as the skipper by defeating the West Indies with a 2-0 series score at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday. India successfully chased down 121 runs in the initial hour of day five, securing a seven-wicket win and earning 12 crucial points in the World Test Championship.

"Leading India is a tremendous honour, and I’m gradually adapting to it. Overseeing all the players and guiding this team is an immense privilege. It’s about making the correct choices based on the situation at hand. I aim to make the most probable decisions in the circumstances we're facing during that match. At times, bold decisions are necessary, especially concerning which players can provide us with vital runs or wickets," Gill remarked after the match concluded.

He elaborated on the reasoning behind imposing the follow-on after India gained a 270-run advantage during the match. "With our lead around 300 runs, we thought that even if we scored 500 runs, securing 6 or 7 wickets on day five could prove challenging. That was our thought process."

Gill also highlighted the significance of nurturing Nitish Kumar Reddy for challenges abroad, even though he didn’t bowl during the match. "He didn't bowl at all in this match. We aim to ensure players aren’t solely participating in overseas matches, as that places excessive pressure on them. We want to develop certain players whom we believe can assist us in winning overseas, as that has been a significant challenge for us."

Regarding his mindset while batting at number four, Gill stated, "Batting is something I've engaged in since I was three or four years old. When I step onto the field, my primary focus is to make decisions as a batsman. The ultimate goal is to figure out how to lead the team to victory. That’s the only thought that occupies my mind when I’m at the crease."

Looking ahead to the upcoming white-ball tour against Australia, commencing on October 19 in Perth—marking Gill’s first stint as ODI captain—he smiled and said, "It’s a long flight; perhaps we can strategize during the journey."

Meanwhile, West Indies captain Roston Chase found motivation in his team’s determined response despite the series loss. "The positive takeaways from this match included Campbell and Hope's performances with centuries. They fought valiantly for us; we batted for 100 overs after a long time, which is another positive. Taking the game to the fifth day was commendable for us," he mentioned.

Chase underscored the strategy that went into their second innings effort, where they scored 390 runs, thanks to centuries from John Campbell and Shai Hope. "We engaged in discussions about how we could navigate those 80 overs effectively. We developed several strategies, including batting against spin, sweeping, and using our feet. It ultimately came down to the players executing the plans we had discussed," he added.

He concluded by expressing confidence in the team’s potential for future Tests. "I believe we have some of the finest players in the Caribbean. We need to treat this last Test as a stepping stone and a confidence builder as we prepare for upcoming series. Continuous improvement is crucial from this point onward."