India captain Shubman Gill has made it clear that history will take a back seat when his team begins the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. The match will mark India’s landmark 600th Test and the 50th Test at the iconic venue, but Gill’s attention is firmly on India’s World Test Championship (WTC) campaign. India currently sits fifth in the WTC standings and faces a difficult qualification race for the 2027 final at The Oval.

Shubman Gill believes India need to win around six or seven of their remaining nine Tests to give themselves a strong chance of reaching the title clash. “I think the main goal is to play the World Test Championship final, which is next year. We have got about nine Tests, and I think we have to win around six or seven to have a good chance of qualifying,” Gill told reporters on the eve of the Galle Test.

The India captain also expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress over the past year and said the squad had taken the right steps ahead of the Sri Lanka tour. Unlike some previous overseas assignments, India arrived in Sri Lanka early and used the additional preparation time effectively.

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The team also played a warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo, giving several players valuable exposure to local conditions before the Test series. Shubman Gill highlighted the importance of that preparation, particularly because several members of the current squad have limited experience of playing Test cricket in Sri Lanka. Additional time in the country allowed the players to adapt to the conditions and understand how the surface and weather could influence the contest.

Despite Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, Shubman Gill remains confident in India’s pace-bowling options. He specifically praised Prasidh Krishna, who impressed during the warm-up game, while also highlighting Gurnoor Brar’s ability to generate bounce and maintain good pace with an older ball. “It’s a tough call. Prasidh has recently been bowling the best that I have ever seen him bowl,” Gill said.

Gill believes India’s bowlers may need to be creative if the Galle pitch does not offer significant assistance, particularly during the opening stages of the Test. He stressed the importance of creating pressure through field placements, variations and sustained discipline. “You have to keep trying different things to be able to take wickets. You have to create opportunities, especially on Day 1 and Day 2,” he explained.

The India captain also backed Devdutt Padikkal to make an impact at No. 3. Padikkal previously toured Sri Lanka with India A and has already gained experience of the local conditions.

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Shubman Gill believes the wind could be an important tactical factor at Galle. Unlike many Indian grounds surrounded by large stands, the open nature of the venue allows crosswinds to influence both batting and bowling. “As a batsman, even in team meetings we talk about if we want to take on a spinner, we have to see if the wind is with us or against us,” Gill said.

For India, the historic 600th Test will therefore be about much more than a milestone. With the WTC final firmly in sight, Gill and his team know that a strong start in Galle could provide the momentum needed for their qualification campaign.