India, Aug. 14 -- Shubman Gill isn't particularly interested in treating India's first Test in Sri Lanka as a fresh start. For him, the larger picture is already clear: the next nine Tests are the road to the World Test Championship final, and India -currently fifth - probably need to win most of those to give themselves a strong chance of making it to Lord's next year.

That makes the opening Test at Galle, beginning on Friday, an important first step in what Gill sees as a defining stretch for this India team. "Obviously, now 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 6 or 7 to be able to have a good chance at qualifying," Gill said on th...