Indian skipper Shubman Gill wants the BCCI to provide spin-friendly pitches during their preparation for the Australia ‘A’ four-day matches in Puducherry in September 2026, which would help them for the five-match Test series against Australia. In the last couple of seasons, it has been noted that Indian batters have struggled to get going against the spinners.

While India was shocked 0-3 by New Zealand in 2024, the team suffered a 0-2 loss against South Africa in 2025. The Border-Gavaskar series against Australia will commence on January 21, 2027.

“Indian batters have not been at their best against spin at home over the last two years. Gill suggested that if a few batters could be given game time against Australia ‘A’, with the pitches taking some turn during the course of the matches, it would help them prepare for the BGT. Obviously, the touring Australian ‘A’ team won’t be given absolute rank turners with an eye on the BGT, but it wouldn’t hurt if the pitches took some turn later in the match,” a source told TOI.

As India has a hectic schedule across all three formats of the game, it is difficult for the players to be available for the India A matches.

“The problem with the schedule is that there will be very few Test players available for the ‘A’ match. Otherwise, the Rest of India team for the Irani Cup will not be as strong as the selectors would like it to be, and that could affect the standard of the match,” the source said, explaining the bind this creates.

The source added that it becomes a challenge for the selectors and team management to pick players because of the hectic scheduling.

“The team management was asked to spell out its preparatory plans for the NZ series. Since so many matches have been packed into a tight schedule, a list of around 60 players was shared to get the visas ready. The selectors and the team management are in a difficult position as they work out a plan to prepare the players for the Test series,” the source described the situation.

Furthermore, the red-ball and white-ball overlap adds more headache for the selectors.

“With the India ‘A’ red-ball series overlapping with the ODI series, some of the key Test players may have to be pressed into playing an India ‘A’ match before the ODIs, which would not be ideal preparation for the ODIs, especially with the World Cup barely a year away. The team management would have liked to field its full ODI side to prepare for the bouncy and seaming conditions in South Africa next year. But slipping up in this Test series could end India’s WTC campaign,” the source concluded.

India’s next Test series is against New Zealand.