Skipper Shubman Gill had a long batting stint while the troika of Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel returned to action for India's final training session here on Wednesday before the first Test against the West Indies.
Cooper Connolly slammed a fine unbeaten fifty as Punjab Kings defeated Gujarat Titans by three wickets in their opening Indian Premier League match on Tuesday.
India's assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate conceded that too many players have batted at number three in Test matches after Cheteshwar Pujara's retirement and it was time that either Sai Sudharsan or Devdutt Padikkal is given a long rope at the key batting position.
Shubman Gill scored a record-breaking 269 and their seamers struck early to put the tourists in a commanding position at Edgbaston on Thursday.
Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel on Friday hailed Shubman Gill for the determination and strength of character he showcased during the drawn series.
Shubman Gill had little to say when asked about Rajasthan Royals' 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi
The controversial decision to select Shubman Gill in place of a well-settled Sanju Samson as the opener has backfired for the Indian team so far.
Indian captain Shubman Gill and his teammates also revelled in the win and expressed their pride and joy on social media handles.
'He saw opportunities and brought in the right kind of bowlers.'
Gill will look to emulate former Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya in leading the team to the final and lift the trophy for a second time.
Chennai Super Kings, on a resurgent run, will aim to strengthen their position in the top half of the IPL standings as they face Gujarat Titans, who are looking to reverse their recent slump in form.
Skipper Shubman Gill acknowledged that the choice between a spinner and an extra seamer for the first Test against South Africa is nothing short of a "conflict".
Shubman Gill's return to Ranji Trophy ended in a two-ball duck as Saurashtra and Punjab batters struggled on a rank turner during the opening day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match in Rajkot
The Indian team management has kept the media guessing but Rishabh Pant is set to become India's 38th Test captain.
Rajat Patidar blasted an unbeaten 93 off 33 balls, before the bowlers ripped through Gujarat Titans' batting as Royal Challengers Bengaluru won Qualifier 1 to reach their second consecutive IPL final.
Harshit Rana returns to the Indian after regaining fitness even as Yashasvi Jaiswal will have to prove his ODI credibility as India look to sweep series against Afghanistan.
Indian all-rounder Axar Patel attributed his match-winning half-century against England in the opening ODI to a renewed focus on timing the ball, a strategic shift from his previous T20 approach of hitting too hard.
'In Shubman's leadership, there is either "Yes" or "No". There is no place for "May Be". As a leader and captain, you need to have that assertiveness about decisions you take, and he definitely has that.'
Patidar highlights bowlers' plight in high-scoring IPL, stays guarded on Ahmedabad final shift
Shubman Gill might just want to be fit enough to bat, as even a half-fit skipper is seen as more effective than Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran or Sarfaraz Khan.
After a brilliant 269 in 387 balls in the first innings, Gill was dismissed for an entertaining 161 off 162 balls with 13 fours and 8 sixes. His runs came at a strike rate of 99.38.
'The most important thing for India is to throw the counter punch almost immediately.'
Three-day gap in between Tests is too less for five-match series: Stokes, Gill on scheduling
The Gujarat Titans enjoyed their break before their next home match.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar backs Josh Hazlewood after RCB's loss to Gujarat Titans, explaining tactical calls and insisting it was just an off day in a long IPL season.
"Gill should cement his place at the top order in T20": Irfan Pathan
'...If Shubman Gill had that kind of a fiery side to him, we would have seen it a little earlier. You don't have to show it when you're the captain.
No major injury for Rishabh, he should be fine for Manchester Test: Gill
This series also marks the return of two Indian heavyweights who will be seen in action for the first time in the Indian jersey since the ICC Champions Trophy Final earlier this year.
'Folks - your Test captain, Shubman Gill.'
However in his first season as skipper, the tally had come down by more than half to 426 runs and even the strike-rate dropped by 10 percent from 157.70 to 147.40.
India's second day against the West Indies began in heartbreak as Yashasvi Jaiswal was run out for 175
Manav Suthar delivered a standout performance in just his second Test, taking 10 wickets as India beat Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the opening match of the series.
The lack of runs from captain Suryakumar Yadav and his deputy Shubman Gill remains a talking point.
For Manav Suthar, Test format is the "pinnacle" of cricket, and the India left-arm spinner revealed that he was practising with red-ball even during IPL 2026 to stay on top of his game.
Shubman Gill will return 'better, stronger' after T20 World Cup snub: Gujarat Titans COO
Virat Kohli expressed his fondness for the Chinnaswamy Stadium after Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a victory against Gujarat Titans.
Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja led India's bowling attack on Day 3 in Galle.
Sanju Samson boasts of a superb record in T20 Internationals, with 995 runs in 51 matches at a strike rate of 147.40, including three centuries and as many fifties.
Gujarat Titans held their nerve in a tense finish to beat Punjab Kings by four wickets in Ahmedabad, sealing their third straight win after a see-saw chase that went down to the final over.
