Indian skipper Shubman Gill said that a cricketing setup based on Test brilliance will develop strong ODI and T20 sides, not the other way around. However, he avoided discussing whether a two-tier system is necessary in Tests considering the difficulties faced by teams such as the West Indies.
Over the past 20 years, Caribbean cricket has changed negatively, and the emergence of T20 leagues has caused its top players to turn to freelancing in search of financial security, which has resulted in a sharp and rapid drop in red-ball player quality.
Gill was questioned if he thought a two-tier system was necessary after destroying the West Indies by an innings and 140 runs in the first Test match in Ahmedabad. Instead, the Indian captain discussed the value of a solid foundation without mentioning the West Indies.
“I think it’s the ICC’s decision whether there should be a two-tier system or not. But I feel as a cricketing nation, whoever plays cricket, if your red-ball base is very strong, then you automatically do well in ODIs and T20s,” Gill said on the eve of the second Test in New Delhi.
“If you look at any of the teams, England, Australia, if the Test teams are very good, it’s a natural thing that your one-day and T20 teams will do well.
“I don’t know, maybe their (West Indies) players’ focus is more on T20 and leagues. So if your focus is on that, then the base from where the game has started, when you forget that, then the struggle of any country starts from there,” he explained.
Gill believes that the strong institutions and distinct priorities of the Indian cricket system have made it stand out in this regard.
“So we are also conscious. If you are doing well in the Test format, then it is a natural thing that in ODI and T20s, you will automatically have a good team. If you have a good base, you will have good options.”
The captain responded that his team is far too focused on its own goals when asked if the caliber of the competition has an impact on his players’ intensity.
“I don’t think your intensity drops depending on the opposition. It doesn’t matter who we are playing. We want to be able to play at our own intensity and we want to win.
“When you are playing for India, you don’t need external motivation to up your intensity. It doesn’t matter who we are playing. We want to maintain our own standards.”
