Shubman Gill has raised concerns over the playing conditions in England’s ongoing Test series, suggesting that flat pitches and ball deterioration are reducing the challenge for batters while making life harder for bowlers.
Following India’s win at Edgbaston that leveled the series 1-1, Gill was candid in his assessment of what he believes is an imbalance between bat and ball.
“It gets very difficult for the bowlers,” he said after India managed to take all 20 England wickets across two innings. “The ball is going soft and out of shape very quickly. I don’t know what it is — the weather, the pitches — but bowlers are really struggling.”
Gill argued that without some assistance from the pitch or the ball, Test cricket risks losing its fundamental appeal.
“If you know there is only 20 overs of any help and then you spend the rest of the day figuring out how to stop runs, the game loses its essence,” he said.
He didn’t appear bitter, though. After scoring 269 and 161 across two innings in the second Test, Gill joked that he appreciated the change as a batter. But he acknowledged the toll it takes on a bowling unit trying to win matches in such conditions.
As stand-in skipper, Gill said he knew he had to set the tone. After getting out on 147 in the last match, he came in this time determined to stay locked in and play with discipline.
“Sometimes, especially when you’re the captain, you need to lead by example. If I’m asking a teammate to show patience or play for the team, then I have to do it first,” he said. “I wanted to bat long and help the team. If a good ball gets me, that’s fine. But until then, I want to keep going.”
Asked whether he missed Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist spin in the middle overs, Gill said it was a difficult decision to leave him out. He felt the added batting depth from Washington Sundar was needed and eventually made a difference.
India fielded for around 90 overs in England’s first innings — far more than usual for Indian conditions. Gill admitted that playing five-day Tests in England presents new challenges, but he welcomed the opportunity for his side to spend more time with the bat than in the field.
“Most Tests at home don’t go the full five days,” he said. “So it helps when we are batting more than fielding. If we can post totals around 300 or 400, we’ll stay in the game.”
He praised the bowling pair of Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj, who collectively took over 16 wickets in the match, easing the workload and answering questions about whether India could succeed without pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
“There were a lot of questions after Bumrah bhai was ruled out. The way Akash and Siraj performed was outstanding,” Gill said. “I honestly have no words.”
India now look ahead with growing confidence. Gill believes the current squad has the depth to take 20 wickets on any surface and hopes the team can carry the momentum into the next matches.
“These are the best players in the country. Pick any combination from the 16 and I think we can win anywhere,” he added.
The third Test is expected to bring more scrutiny on England’s pitch preparation. Whether conditions shift to offer bowlers more assistance remains to be seen.
