'If the scheduling allows us to...': Shubman Gill raises concern over India's packed schedule, pushes for more Test preparation

Team India will lock horns against Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match series on August 15, Saturday at the Galle International Stadium in Galle. Ahead of the first Test, India's Test skipper Shubman Gill has dropped his stance on the stacked cricketing calendars of the men's team, stating 7-10 days of preparation before any Test assignment is good enough.

Shubman Gill believes that the current squad needs at least 7-10 days of preparatory time, as it features a lot of inexperienced players and it won't be easy for them to adapt to alien conditions.

Shubman Gill's strong push for practice games

Gill's push for strong preparation reportedly dates back to last year, when India's struggles in the longest format became a major talking point after clean sweeps at the hands of South Africa and New Zealand. The Indian skipper has discussed the lack of proper match practice with BCCI on various occasions, stressing the significance of practice fixtures before key Test assignments.

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His concerns appear to have been taken into consideration, with a three-day practice game scheduled in Sri Lanka before the start of the Test series.

"If the scheduling allows us to have at least a week or 10 days before the Test match starts, it obviously helps with the preparation. Even last year we had a quite busy schedule — playing in England and then playing in the Asia Cup, then playing a Test match in India," said Shubman at a press conference.

Difficulties in Test cricket

The transition becomes tough when India are set to play a Test series soon after the IPL. Most members of the Test setup spend almost two months playing T20 format, leaving them with limited time to readjust their techniques to meet the demands of red-ball cricket. 

Oppositions often face a different situation, as several countries have a core group of Test specialists who are not heavily involved in franchise cricket and can prepare specifically for the longer format.

“So, it’s never easy for the players to be able to adapt. And most of the players in this team, I think, require a bit of time to adjust with the conditions. It’s not like a lot of the players have a lot of matches or a lot of experience under their belts. So, the extra time in preparation definitely helps,"