Indian captain Shubman Gill said they would be disappointed if they don’t qualify for the World Test Championship final in the ongoing cycle. India started their WTC 2025-27 campaign with a 2-2 series draw against England.
India had qualified for the final of the first two cycles but could not make it to the summit clash in the last cycle after losing Test series against New Zealand (0-3 at home) and then Australia (1-3 away).
India has started their home season against the West Indies on a high, skittling out the opposition at 162. The home team ended the opening day’s play at 121-1, trailing by only 41.
Gill said on JioStar, “You are playing everything to win. I play everything to win. You have an opportunity to play to play in the final after two years of hard work. I feel even after having such a strong side, with so much talent, if we don’t play the WTC final, then we should be disappointed.”
Gill added that he wants to give security to all the players regarding their places in the team.
“I want all the players in the squad to be secure about what they have to do to be in this team. Our full effort will be directed towards that. And then if some team plays better cricket than us and beats us, that is allowed.”
The Indian captain said they will look to play hard cricket at home and deliver a collective performance.
“The plan is simple. We are just looking to play hard and grinding cricket. We are not looking to take easy options. We’ve got probably the four best spinners in the world right now in Kuldeep, Jadeja, Axar and Washington. Every team that comes to India know the two main challenges – Spin and Reverse swing. So we will keep testing the opposition in these two areas,” said Gill.
Gill was unbeaten on 18 at the end of the opening day of the first Test against the West Indies.
