14 August,2026 05:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Shubman Gill (Pic: PTI)
India captain Shubman Gill expressed that he feels increasingly settled in his leadership role, praising the team's progression despite still searching for a marquee Test series win under his command.
"I am very comfortable with the captaincy role, and I think the way we have been, you know, progressing in the past one year... it has been very pleasing to see from my perspective," Gill said ahead of the series opener in Galle. "And I think we are taking all the right steps in the right direction."
Sitting fifth in the World Test Championship standings, Gill emphasised the urge to climb up the table.
"Obviously, now the main goal is to play the World Test Championship final, which is next year. We have got about nine Tests and I think we have to win around 6 or 7 to be able to have a good chance at qualifying. So in terms of that, I think that this is (versus Sri Lanka) a very important series for us and we have had the right kind of preparation leading up to the series," he added.
Leading India in their 600th Test match on Independence Day places Gill alongside historic figures like Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (100th) and Virat Kohli (500th).
"It's a very big honour and privilege, you know, any Test Match that you captain for your country. Obviously, leading my country in our 600th Test match is a big honour and privilege for me and doing that on Independence Day is even more special," he said.
Assessing the conditions in Galle, Gill highlighted tactical similarities to certain Indian surfaces.
"To begin with, there is a big similarity that the spinners play a huge role, especially when the ball gets old. Differences, I mean it depends where you are playing in India because India has got different kinds of soils. Here (in Galle) we have seen in the matches that were played recently, we saw there is a good bit of bounce which I would say is similar to playing on a red soil wicket (in India)," he explained.
(With inputs from PTI)
