Bumrah’s Availability To Be Decided Match-by-Match, Confirms Shubman Gill

India’s Test captain Shubman Gill confirmed on Wednesday that Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies will be assessed on a match-to-match basis. Gill explained that the management would closely monitor the pacer’s workload and fitness before deciding his involvement in each Test.

“We’re going to take a call on a match-to-match basis depending on how long a Test match goes on and how many overs our fast bowlers bowl. Nothing is pre-decided. We’re going to take the call once the Test match is over, and how our fast bowlers feel and how their bodies feel after the match,” Gill told reporters.

The series begins on October 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This workload management approach echoes the strategy from earlier in the year when it was announced that Bumrah would feature in only three of the five Tests during the England series.

Gill’s Captaincy Journey and Stellar Red-Ball Form

Gill, who took over as India’s Test captain in May 2025, has had a mixed season across formats. He started his leadership stint strongly during the five-match series against England, where he scored four centuries and amassed 754 runs in 10 innings at an impressive average of 75.40.

His standout performances included scores of 269 and 161, leading India to their maiden Test victory in Birmingham. Following the series, Gill was appointed vice-captain for India’s T20 Asia Cup campaign.

However, his white-ball form did not match his red-ball dominance, managing just 127 runs at an average of 21.16 on the slow, spin-friendly pitches in the UAE. Transitioning back to Test cricket on Indian soil, Gill acknowledged the challenges of shifting formats so quickly, especially just three days after the Asia Cup final.

Mental Preparation Key To Format Switch

Discussing the challenges of adapting from T20s to Tests, Gill highlighted the mental adjustments required for a batter. “When you are going from the shortest to longest, I think it’s probably the hardest when you go from T20 to one day and then test. It’s probably easier than going from test to T20 or T20 to test,” he said. Gill emphasized the importance of focus and patience in red-ball cricket. “That zone is nothing, just watching the ball well… deciding which areas to defend and which to attack,” he explained.

He also stressed that batting challenges are often more mental than physical. “For a batsman, I don’t think it’s physical fatigue. It’s more mental… As of now, I feel fresh and my body is ready,” Gill concluded, confident about leading India in the upcoming series.