India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has admitted that Test captain Shubman Gill faces a “super challenging” workload as he continues to lead India across formats, especially ahead of the upcoming all-format series against South Africa. With the modern game demanding year-round cricket, Ten Doeschate acknowledged that this is precisely why very few players manage to feature in all three formats — but Gill, he says, has embraced that challenge head-on.

Gill, who replaced Rohit Sharma as India’s ODI captain for the Australia tour, endured a modest run in white-ball cricket, scoring sporadically across three ODIs and showing only glimpses of form in the T20Is. Yet, the 26-year-old finds himself once again leading India — this time in a high-stakes home Test series that forms a vital part of the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle.

“It is super challenging to play all formats. That is why you see fewer and fewer players playing all formats. Shubman has taken up this challenge and is up for it. The boys are putting in a lot of work to stay in shape and ready for this challenge,” said  Ryan ten Doeschate during the pre-match press conference.

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Since taking over the Test captaincy during the England tour in June, Gill has featured in seven Tests, three ODIs, and 13 T20Is — barely getting any rest. Ten Doeschate believes that South Africa will bring a balanced yet aggressive approach, similar to New Zealand’s side that whitewashed India 3-0 last year.

“South Africa will probably play three spinners and two seamers. That’s always a challenge when you play in the subcontinent. We’ve learned from the New Zealand series, and we’re ready for it,” Ryan ten Doeschate added.

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The assistant coach also confirmed that Nitish Kumar Reddy is likely to miss out on the playing XI due to team combination requirements. “Our stance hasn’t changed on Nitish. He didn’t get a chance in Australia, and given the balance we’re going for here, he’ll probably sit out again. It’s important to maintain depth in batting and keep our bowling attack specialized,” he noted.

India have dominated South Africa at home in recent years, winning seven of their last eight Tests, with the remaining fixture ending in a draw. The last time the Proteas toured India in 2019, the hosts swept the series 3-0, with emphatic innings wins in Pune and Ranchi.