India captain Shubman Gill believes that the team didn't have enough time to prepare for the Test series against West Indies and South Africa. The 26-year-old also said that even if they would have won against the Proteas, then it wouldn't make much of a difference as preparation is a big deal.
"In the last two Test series we did not have enough time to prepare... If we had won vs South Africa, it wouldn't have made a lot of difference and preparation for me is a big thing. We did not have enough time before South Africa and West Indies series. Good to have some time to prepare when going from white ball to red ball," Gill said in the pre-match press-conference.
India's Test struggles under Gambhir
This statement comes after India's Test struggles under Gautam Gambhir. Notably, the Men in Blue got whitewashed by New Zealand at home in 2024 before South Africa did the same in November, 2025. Gambhir is the only Indian coach under whom the side has been whitewashed twice at home in Tests and thus, has come under intense scrutiny.
After not being able to make the World Test Championshiup (WTC) final last year following their 3-1 defeeat to Australia in the Bortder-Gavaskar series, India currently stand sixth on the WTC 2025-27 points table. Though there is a long time to go before the final, but it is safe to say that they have made an underhwlming start to the new cycle.
After drawing the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England by 2-2, they won the home series against West Indies by 2-0. However, they lost all momentum in the home assignment against South Africa where they lost both the games. They have a PCT of 48.15 and will be looking to improve it as the Test season resumes later in the year.
Team India's next assignment
Meanwhile, Team India is currently focused on white-ball cricket with the 2026 T20 World Cup right around the corner. Their next assignment will be a three-match ODI series against New Zealand at home that will commence from January 11. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are set to be in action again as the first match takes place in Vadodara.
India's squad for New Zealand ODIs: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.