Post South Africa Debacle, Shubman Gill Advocates Intensive Red-Ball 15-Day Camps To Revitalise India's Test Cricket

India's recent 0-2 home thrashing against South Africa has provoked Test captain Shubman Gill to propose a significant change in the team's preparation strategy, stating that the team should attend 15-day camps before every Test series to improve their performance.

As per The Times of India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly open to Gill's suggestion and is considering utilising the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

BCCI assembled spur-of-the-moment discussions with selectors and the team's leadership group in the aftermath of a disturbing 0-2 home Test series drubbing against South Africa, marking the second such whitewash in the space of 13 months.

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“Gill was very clear that the team needed better preparation before going into a Test series. There was an issue with the itinerary this season where the team didn’t have much time to prepare. Gill recommended to the Board that it would be ideal if there were 15-day red-ball camps before a Test series,” a BCCI source told TOI.

India's packed schedule left players racing, with the West Indies Test kicking off just days after the Asia Cup win, and Gill joining the squad post-Australia whiteball tour, hardly 4 days before the South Africa Test.

“Gill is showing assertive qualities now. He is presenting his vision to the selectors and BCCI with a lot more clarity. It augurs well for Indian cricket as there is a need for a strong captain after Rohit Sharma. The Test and ODI teams are Gill’s. It is important for him to have a bigger say,” the source told BCCI.

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“There may be instances where Gambhir will be busy with white-ball teams even as there may be a Test series approaching. The Board may use the services of CoE cricket head VVS Laxman to organise red-ball camps,” the source said.

India's next Test engagement is slated for July 2026, with a two-match series against Sri Lanka.