'The runs from his bat at the top of the order will be crucial for India's success in this five-match series against South Africa.'
India have relied on their spin strength on rank turners to gain points in WTC cycles in the past but Gill has said he wants his side to play on tracks that offer equally to batters and bowlers.
Australia's leading pace bowlers, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, are set to miss the start of IPL 2026.
India are most likely to field only one spinner in the Test matches in South Africa but left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja is not worried about fighting for that lone spot with team-mate Ravichandran Ashwin.
'That has been the big factor behind me coming so far in my career.'
South Africa humiliated the touring New Zealanders with an embarrassingly one-sided eight-wicket victory in the first of three Twetnty20 Internationals on Friday.
Spinner Moeen Ali completed a hat-trick to seal England's 239-run victory over South Africa in the third Test at The Oval on Monday.
Shubman's T20I series participation against South Africa doubtful; Samson, Jaiswal contenders for the slot
Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar discusses the challenges and blessings of playing all formats of cricket, his fitness regime, and his goals for the future, including the ODI World Cup.
Kagiso Rabada said South Africa are gunning for a whitewash of India, having trampled the visitors in the first two matches.
India opener Shikhar Dhawan exuded confidence ahead of India's crucial tour of South Africa, saying the team will go into the series well prepared and the experience of playing South African pacers in the IPL will prove beneficial.
South Africa's leading paceman Kagiso Rabada says it is time to move on from the euphoria of beating Australia in the World Test Championship final while admitting a belated major trophy success has come as a relief to his team.
Never thought I would be back in India in million years, this feels surreal: Harmer
It will also the first three-Test series between the countries since the West Indies tour of Australia in 2015-16.
Opener Dean Elgar provided stubborn resistance as South Africa finished the second day of the first Test on 137 for four in reply to England's 303 at Kingsmead on Sunday.
India were forced to name a depleted squad for the first Test against South Africa after Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh and S Sreesanth were ruled out due to injuries, sustained during the recently-concluded tour of Bangladesh. Karnataka fast bowler Abhimanyu Mithun was rewarded for an outstanding performance in domestic matches last season, while Bengal wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha was a surprise inclusion, in place of Dinesh Karthik, in the 15-man squad.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that the Indian cricket team has distanced itself from the administrative issues between Cricket SA (CSA) and the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma revealed that he received an apology from Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant for an offensive comment during the Kolkata Test.
'I am where I have to be and whatever is written in my destiny no one can take that from me.'
India's awe-inspiring batting depth will face a stern test against South Africa's quality spin attack in the first Test, starting in Kolkata on Friday.
Eugenio Chacarra leads the Hero Indian Open, aiming for back-to-back wins, while Casey Jarvis trails closely, seeking his third DP World Tour title. Several Indian players face a tough weekend after a disrupted second day.
Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar says Indian team's recent success at home and an in-form captain Virat Kohli gives him confidence that they will enjoy success during next year's overseas tours.
Hardik Pandya poised for double milestone in South Africa series
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh finds it a bit unfortunate that the future of legends like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is being decided by "people who have not achieved much" but he nonetheless expects the duo to carry on till the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The T20 WC champions will look to enter this phase with clarity of intent as they refine roles, streamline combinations and settle the XI that will carry the weight of expectations in front of home crowds.
A toe injury suffered before the fourth T20I is set to keep Gill out of the final T20I here as India would want to take a cautious route, more so when there is a ready replacement for the top order slot in Sanju Samson.
Jacob Bethell has represented England in 29 matches across all formats and will lead the team in the absence of the regular Test players.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who returned to international cricket for the three-match ODI series against Australia recently, were not considered for India A's three-match one-day series against the touring South Africa A side, beginning in Rajkot on November 13.
Controversial speedster Shoaib Akhtar has created a flutter yet again. The former Pakistan pacer said he is not at all surprised to see the Indian batsmen struggle on their ongoing tour of South Africa.
The official 26-man squads for FIFA World Cup 2026.
After the battering it was subjected to during the tour of Australia and the Asia Cup, the Indian cricket team would look to make a fresh start before the IPL razzmatazz when it takes on an in-form South Africa in a one-off Twenty20 international in Johannesburg on Friday.
V V S Laxman said the Indian team's aggressive approach is the primary reason behind the wholehearted support they receive anywhere across the globe.
'I believe, at home you should play to your strength, there is no need to hide behind that issue' 'I can't remember a series since then as big as this. So the opportunity is there for the team to go out and show their mettle'
Rinku smashed a blazing maiden T20 hundred to single-handedly power his side past Gaur Gorakhpur Lions' 168-run target at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.
Speaking on The Great Indian Cricket Show on Doordarshan, Mukund, who represented India in seven Tests from 2011-17, said: "I think Shubman has it in him to become an all-format captain, but I do not think India should have an all-format captain anymore."
Spin great Harbhajan Singh said India don't have a specialist off-spinner for Test cricket.
India's Team Director Ravi Shastri on Friday said that South Africa are still a formidable side despite the retirement of some big players recently but his side will continue their aggressive brand of cricket in the upcoming series beginning on October 2.
Even as the focus remains on the T20 World Cup which is less than a month away, Kohli and Rohit will hog the limelight in the three ODIs over the next seven days.
Selection committee looking to continue building towards World T20 in Australia in October 2020.
With the scars of last year's home series whitewash against New Zealand still raw, preparing rank turners may invite risk.
