Shubman Gill calls India captaincy in Mullanpur a big privilege

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Shubman Gill said leading India in front of familiar surroundings in Mullanpur is a major personal moment as India prepare for a one-off Test against Afghanistan on Saturday.

The match does not count towards the World Test Championship standings, but Gill said the fixture matters for India because the team is moving from the IPL season into a longer red-ball phase. The India captain made the remarks in a BCCI video, as reported by The Times of India.

Gill says Test cricket remains the most satisfying format for him

Gill said Test cricket gives him the strongest sense of satisfaction as a player because the format demands technical, physical, and mental adjustment across five days.

“For me, this is the most satisfying format. If you do well in this format, that’s how I feel most good about myself. The feel of wearing the whites, wearing the baggy cap. Nothing beats that, it’s the traditional way, the OG way of playing cricket,” Gill said.

India are starting their red-ball season against Afghanistan after another IPL season, which means several players must move from T20 cricket to the rhythm of Test cricket in a short period.

The IPL to Test switch brings heat and format demands

Gill said India’s players face a clear adjustment because T20 matches were played at night during the IPL, while the Test challenge in Mullanpur comes with daytime heat close to 40 degrees.

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“The weather is very different. You play T20 at night and now it’s almost 40 degrees so there’s a lot of mental challenges that comes into play. And apart from all the technicalities you have to change, adapting for this format especially is why the format is so great and gives you so much respect around the world,” Gill said.

The India captain linked that adjustment to the value of Test cricket, saying the format rewards players who can adapt beyond only technique.

Gill backs younger players in India’s red-ball group

Gill said India’s squad includes younger players he has already seen in the national setup, including through overseas series and tour games.

“I have played with most of them in the Indian setup and whenever we have had a series, be it abroad or in tour games, they have shown they are very exciting young talents. Hopefully they are going to represent, work hard and serve the country for a very long time,” Gill said.

The Afghanistan Test gives India a chance to assess combinations and sharpen red-ball habits before the team moves deeper into its Test schedule.

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Afghanistan are not a lesser opposition, Gill says

Gill said India will not treat Afghanistan lightly, pointing to Afghanistan’s progress since the teams first met in Test cricket in 2018.

“I remember the Test we played against them and the journey that they have had from there. Playing a World Cup semi-final, a T20 World Cup semi-final, they have done really well in all the ICC tournaments. The kind of talent that they have, they are not a lesser opposition for us. They have got really good talent, they are an amazing team and it’s going to be a very interesting Test match,” Gill said.

Afghanistan’s development across formats makes the one-off Test more than a warm-up exercise for India, even though no World Test Championship points are available.

Mullanpur captaincy adds a personal layer for Gill

Gill said captaining India near the region where he grew up playing cricket makes the Afghanistan Test especially meaningful for him.

“To be able to lead my country, I always dreamt about playing for the country, let alone leading the country. It’s a very big privilege for me to do it here in front of my home ground where I grew up playing,” Gill said.

Gill also said the match is important preparation because India have nine Tests before the WTC final. The immediate task for India is to regain red-ball rhythm while treating Afghanistan as a serious Test opponent.