Shubman Gill Calls for Balanced Pitches in Upcoming Test Series Against West Indies

India captain Shubman Gill has stressed on playing on wickets, which provide good balance between bat and ball in the upcoming Test series against West Indies. India are set to take on West Indies in a two-match series set to begin on October 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

It will be the first home assignment for captain Gill after being awarded full-time captaincy for the Test team in May earlier this year. As India look to restore their home dominance after being whitewashed 0-3 in the last home rubber against West Indies, Gill has said that the team will play on good wickets providing assistance to both batters and bowlers.

"I can't really speak about what were the conversations before I came (in as captain), but yes we would be looking to play on wickets that offer (help) to both the batsmen and to the bowlers,” said Gill in the pre-match press conference.

Furthermore, he also mentioned that they will look to challenge the opponents with both spin and reverse swing and will play on the wickets which allow both to happen.

“But having said that, I think any challenge for any team that comes to India, they know that the challenge is going to be spin and reverse swing. Keeping these challenges in mind, we would be looking to play on wickets that offer both to the batsmen and to the bowlers,” he added.

Gill had a good beginning to his captaincy tenure as he led India to a 2-2 series draw in England. The star batter led from the front, finishing as the highest run scorer of the series with 754 runs from ten innings at an average of 75.4, registering four centuries.

He scored a whopping 430 runs in the second Test at Edgbaston playing knocks of 269 and 161 respectively in two innings, registering the second highest Test aggregate by a batter in history. Gill will be eager to continue his rich form at home as India prepare for the West Indies challenge.