Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa praised Test skipper Shubman Gill’s alleged plea for 15-day camps. The proposal followed India’s devastating 0-2 home defeat to South Africa.
Uthappa characterized Shubman Gill’s leadership appeal as absurd. He assumed that the request indicated Gill taking leadership. The former India batter remarked on the importance of preparation and showing respect for Test cricket.
“I think it is an insane call from a leader. There cannot be a better call than that. He is taking charge of Test cricket in that sense. It is very good. Before a Test series, a team needs a preparation of at least two weeks. We are playing Test series to win the WTC. So to win that, we cannot win by just playing Test cricket. You have to plan, prepare, and build. You need to give that respect to Test cricket as a board and a team. I am very happy that he brought it up,” he said on his YouTube channel.
India is ranked sixth in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27, having won four of nine matches. Their next Test series is an away tour of Sri Lanka in August 2026, with two matches scheduled.
Aakash Chopra’s suggestion to BCCI after Shubman Gill’s reported request
Meanwhile, former India batter Aakash Chopra agreed to Shubman Gill’s reported desire for 15-day camps before a Test series. In fact, Chopra suggested that the BCCI consider reducing a few bilateral matches to open up a window for such camps, allowing for better preparation.
“But if you look at the BCCI, we are a strong board and not financially dependent. We don’t need three extra games. So if we wish to prepare well, then we can create a window. Preparation has been integral. So if Gill is saying this, find a window, prepare a window. It is unfortunate that you are jumping from one continent to another and playing different formats. The demands are also very different. If the preparation is not good and they fail, it’s a function of you not preparing well as well,” he said on ‘Backstage with Boria’.
Chopra, like Shubman Gill, stated that if India truly wanted to prioritize Test cricket in the future, it would be necessary to go the distance.
