Watch: Gill sets WTC final goal ahead of IND vs SL Test

India’s road to the World Test Championship (WTC) final continues with the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on August 15. Captain Shubman Gill knows the challenge ahead and has made it clear that India’s main target is to reach the WTC final.

India are currently fifth in the WTC standings and need to win most of their remaining matches to keep their hopes alive. Speaking ahead of the first Test, Gill said, “The main goal is to play the WTC final.” His statement shows how important the upcoming series is for Team India.

India will face Sri Lanka in a crucial two-Test series, with every WTC point important for their qualification hopes. Gill and his team will look to start the series with a strong performance in Galle and take another step towards their main goal of reaching the WTC final.

Watch Shubman Gill’s interview video here:

"Our goal is to qualify" — Gill's full statement on Team India's WTC ambitions

India need a strong result in the series against Sri Lanka to keep their World Test Championship (WTC) final hopes alive. With nine Tests remaining in the cycle, captain Shubman Gill believes India have a good chance of reaching the final if they can win most of their remaining matches.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Gill said, “The main goal is to play WTC final. We have a very good chance of reaching the WTC Final. We have 9 Test matches left, and we need to win around 7 of them.”

Gill also stressed the importance of maintaining the right rhythm and momentum throughout the remaining matches. He added, “If we can win this series and maintain the right rhythm and momentum, we can put ourselves in a strong position to reach the WTC Final.” India will now look to start their campaign against Sri Lanka with a strong performance in Galle.

Why this Test matters: India sit 5th in WTC standings heading into Galle

India are currently fifth in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings and need a strong result against Sri Lanka to improve their position. The first Test in Galle is therefore important for India’s hopes of reaching the WTC final.

Captain Shubman Gill has made it clear that qualifying for the WTC final is the team’s main goal. He said, “Very comfortable with the role, and I think the way we have been progressing in the past year has been very pleasing to see from my perspective, and I think we are taking all the right steps in the right direction.”

The WTC race is heating up, with Australia, South Africa and New Zealand currently ahead of India. With every match affecting the Points Percentage (PCT), India cannot afford many more setbacks. A strong start in Galle will be important for their qualification hopes.

Gill's own WTC final scars — Can he lead India back this time?

Shubman Gill has already experienced the pressure of a World Test Championship (WTC) final. He played for India in the 2023 WTC final against Australia at The Oval in London, where India suffered a defeat.

Gill opened the batting for India in both innings but could not make a big impact. He scored 13 runs from 15 balls in the first innings before being bowled by Scott Boland. In the second innings, he scored 18 runs from 19 balls before being caught by Cameron Green off Boland’s bowling.

Gill will now hope to use that experience as India’s captain and lead the team back to the WTC final. With India still in the race for the 2027 final, he will be determined to perform better and guide the team through the remaining matches.