VIDEO SHOWS: PRESS CONFERENCE COMMENTS FROM INDIA CAPTAIN SHUBMAN GILL AHEAD OF FIRST TEST AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA SHOWS: KOLKATA, INDIA (NOVEMBER 13, 2025) (BCCI - Must on screen courtesy BCCI. No use social media. No monetisation.) 1. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIA TEST CAPTAIN, SHUBMAN GILL, ON WICKET AND SPINNERS, SAYING: "Yes, I think more or less finalized, but when we came yesterday, the wicket looked a little different to what it looked like today. So, we’ll come tomorrow and see how the wicket looks. And I think in this part of India, the light dims a little early. So, all those things are a factor. Generally, fast bowlers get a little help in the morning and evening. Once we finally come tomorrow and see how the wicket looks, we will decide accordingly. And yes, I think whenever we play in India, more or less spinners decide the game. The better the quality of the spin attack you have, the better chances you have to win the match." 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIA TEST CAPTAIN, SHUBMAN GILL, ON IMPORTANCE OF TEST MATCGES FOR INDIA'S HOPES OF MAKING IT TO THE WTC FINAL, SAYING: "Yes sir, I think these two test matches and this series are very important for us to play the WTC final. And South Africa is a very good team. They are the reigning champions of the World Test Championship. So, we know that it won't be that easy for us. There will be difficult moments. But I think as a team, we have shown that whenever there are difficult moments, we have handled them very well. And as far as the wicket is concerned, I think the wicket is very good, like a typical Indian wicket and hopefully it will be a good match." 4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIA TEST CAPTAIN, SHUBMAN GILL, SAYING: "Yes, I mean, always at this time of the year, there's always a conflict whether you would want to go for that extra all-rounder or you want to go for an extra spinner. But that's why I said, I think once we come tomorrow, see how the wicket looks in the morning, we're going to take a decision. You know what kind of combination would give us the best chance to be able to win this test match. " 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIA TEST CAPTAIN, SHUBMAN GILL, ON BALANCING CAPTAINCY WITH ROLE OF BATTER, SAYING: "I think in my preparations, I mainly focus on how can I succeed as a batsman. And then when we are there on the field, I like my instincts to take over whenever I'm out there captaining my side. And that's when I feel I make the best decisions for the team tactically. And it's a conscious effort that whenever I'm going out there as a batsman, I just want to play and make decisions as a batsman. And I don't want to think, ‘oh, how would I make a decision if I was the captain’? And I think sometimes when you think that, you put too much pressure on yourself and you don't take those small risks, even in test cricket, which are required, which gives me the X factor as a batsman. So that's how I try to rationalise my captaincy and my batting." 8. WHITE FLASH 9. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIA TEST CAPTAIN, SHUBMAN GILL, ON PLAYING DIFFERENT FORMATS WITH LITTLE TIME IN BETWEEN MATCHES, SAYING: "I think definitely, in three or four day turnaround, coming from another country and playing in a different format is not that easy. I think mentally it's quite challenging. There's a lot of time difference in Australia. So getting used to the body, and then coming here, there are different challenges when you play test period in India as compared to when you're playing in the wide world of Australia. So definitely it's mentally and physically challenging. But I think as a professional cricketer, you know that all these things will be thrown at you. And how you tackle them, I think that defines your greatness." 10. WHITE FLASH 11. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIA TEST CAPTAIN, SHUBMAN GILL, ON REACHING WTC FINAL, SAYING: "Yes, I think all the teams that play the WTC final, definitely have a minimum benchmark for themselves. You want to play in the finals, you want to win the finals, and whatever team combinations you have, wherever you play, whatever you think, you make a team for that situation that you win here and definitely go on to play in the finals." STORY: India captain Shubman Gill on Thursday (November 13) said he expects spin to play a significant role in this month's two-test home series against South Africa. Gill's side sit third in the World Test Championship rankings after beginning their 2025-27 cycle with a 2-2 draw in England followed by a 2-0 sweep at home against West Indies. "I think whenever we play in India, more or less spinners decide the game. The better the quality of the spin attack you have, the better chances you have to win the match," Gill told reporters. Reigning world champions South Africa forced a 1-1 draw in Pakistan but the squad, despite being bolstered by the return of their fit-again skipper Temba Bavuma, can expect a sterner test in the eastern Indian cities of Kolkata and Guwahati. Jasprit Bumrah's mastery both with the new and old ball will test South Africa, who have eight players in their ranks with no experience of playing a test in India. They will also be wary of India's left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who appears to have finally found his groove and backing from his team in the long format. The selection of three specialist spinners and batter Zubayr Hamza suggests the importance of spin is not lost on South Africa. The first test of the series against South Africa begins on November 14 in Kolkata before they move to Guwahati for the second test from November 22. 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