India’s Test captain Shubman Gill has begun red-ball preparations ahead of the upcoming Test series against South Africa, switching gears after a mixed white-ball outing in Australia.
On Thursday, Gill trained for nearly 90 minutes at Eden Gardens, Kolkata — the venue for the opening Test — working closely with head coach Gautam Gambhir and assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak. The session focused on refining his batting technique and footwork against both spin and pace.
Gill’s Long Discussion with Gautam Gambhir
Before padding up, Gill was seen in a lengthy chat with Gambhir near the High Court end. Sources suggest the discussion revolved around his red-ball mindset and approach after a modest run in limited-overs cricket, where his top score in eight innings was 46 at Carrara Oval.
Gill later joined his teammates for slip-fielding drills before beginning an intense batting session alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, who recently impressed in the Ranji Trophy with scores of 67 and 156 for Rajasthan.
Facing Jadeja, Bumrah, and Morkel’s Throwdowns
Gill first tackled spin from Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, displaying composure while playing along the ground and occasionally sweeping.
He then shifted to the pace nets, taking on Jasprit Bumrah for several overs, followed by Nitish Kumar Reddy and local seamers who challenged him with movement and bounce.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel closely monitored the session, using throwdowns to simulate sharp pace and lift, testing Gill’s back-foot play. After an hour in the nets, Gill continued for another 30 minutes in the center strip, perfecting his timing and shot selection.
Yashasvi Jaiswal Impresses in the Nets
Jaiswal looked in superb touch, confidently driving and pulling during his stint against Morkel’s deliveries and sidearm throwdowns. His form could be vital for India in the upcoming Test series.
Meanwhile, the Proteas, who drew their last series 1–1 in Pakistan, arrive high on confidence ahead of the subcontinent challenge.
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