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TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: Citing the overcast conditions in Ahmedabad, Team India captain Shubman Gill on Wednesday hinted at playing an extra seamer in the first Test against West Indies, starting Thursday at the Narendra Modi Stadium.“You will get to know the XI tomorrow. Conditions and weather are tempting to play an extra seamer. We will take a call tomorrow after seeing the moisture in the pitch,” he told reporters.Gill acknowledged that it will be challenging for players who were part of India’s Asia Cup-winning squad but said it will be more of a mental adjustment than a technical one.“It was a quick turnaround for this Test. I was looking to get in the zone; switching formats is more mental than technical,” he said.Shubman Gill said the decision on Jasprit Bumrah’s inclusion would be taken on a match-to-match basis, depending on how much he has bowled in a Test and how the bowlers feel, adding that nothing has been decided yet. “The call on Bumrah will be match to match, depending on how much he has bowled in a Test and how the bowlers feel. Nothing is decided yet,” he said. On his own workload, Gill remarked that he prefers to take it week by week without looking too far ahead, stressing that for batters, the challenge is more about mental fatigue than physical strain as it is for bowlers. He added that, at present, he feels fresh.“On playing so much cricket, I will take it week by week. I am not looking too far ahead. For batters, it is more mental fatigue than physical—unlike bowlers. Right now, I am fresh,” Gill said.
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The 26-year-old also warned West Indies that his team will play “tough cricket” in the two-match Test series.“No easy options… we want to play tough cricket. Every Test in England went deep. We are ready to play that tough cricket. We are playing in India after a year; any series is important. We will be looking to dominate the series,” he said.On the playing conditions, Gill added: “Any team that comes to India knows the challenge here is spin and reverse swing. We want wickets that give something for both batters and bowlers.”
