Shubman Gill calls for spin-friendly pitches for India's BGT preparation

India Test captain Shubman Gill has advocated for the use of spin-friendly pitches during the Australia ‘A’ four-day matches scheduled for September 2026 in Puducherry. Gill noted that Indian batters have struggled against slow bowling at home over the last two years and believes that providing game time on turning tracks would better prepare the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in early 2027.

The proposal comes as India prepares for critical fixtures in the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, including a series against New Zealand and the home series against Australia. However, preparation efforts face significant scheduling challenges. The Australia ‘A’ tour overlaps with the Irani Cup in Srinagar and a three-match ODI series against the West Indies, which may limit the availability of top Test players for the developmental matches.