Indian captain Shubman Gill has ruled out any drop in intensity ahead of the final Test against a demoralised West Indies, promising that India will field their strongest playing XI in pursuit of a 2-0 series sweep. The series decider begins on Friday at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, following India’s dominant innings and 140-run victory in the first Test at Ahmedabad.
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Gill emphasized that intensity does not depend on the opposition. “It doesn’t matter who you’re playing. We want to be able to play at our own intensity. Playing for India, you don’t need external motivation,” he said. The skipper added that maintaining high standards is a priority, regardless of whether they face West Indies, Bangladesh, Australia, or England.
While India are on a high after their Asia Cup T20 triumph in the UAE last month, Gill admitted that mental fatigue could be his biggest challenge. He recently took over as India’s ODI captain, adding to his workload alongside leading the Test side. “Physically most of the time I feel fine, but sometimes there is mental fatigue because when you are constantly playing, there is obviously a certain expectation that I have from myself,” he explained.
Gill’s rise has been rapid. He made his Test debut in December 2020 and took over the Test captaincy in May from Rohit Sharma. He was India’s leading scorer during the five-Test series in England with 754 runs and also served as vice-captain for the Asia Cup-winning T20 side. Despite his young age of 26, he has already shouldered the responsibility of leading India across formats.
The Test skipper did not reveal India’s playing XI for the Delhi match but confirmed they will field the “strongest 11” keeping World Test Championship implications in mind. While India’s first Test performance was near-perfect, questions remain about Sai Sudharsan’s ability to secure the number three spot. The 23-year-old left-hander has managed just one fifty in seven innings in that crucial position, but Gill emphasized patience with young players. “You have to give young players more opportunities,” he said.
West Indies captain Roston Chase, meanwhile, is looking to inspire his team despite recent struggles. Following a 3-0 whitewash against Australia in July, which included a low of 27 all out in Kingston, the side remains winless in the series. Chase drew motivation from conversations with former West Indies legends Viv Richards, Richie Richardson, and Brian Lara, who encouraged him to maintain belief and mindset. “Obviously we’re down right now, but it has to change at some point. Change can start from now, and it starts with the belief and the mindset of each and every player,” he said.
As India aim to continue their commanding form and West Indies seek a turnaround, the final Test promises high stakes for both sides, with leadership, confidence, and execution likely to determine the series outcome.
