"Even when I was not scoring runs, I always felt I made the right call" - Shubman Gill on moving to No. 3 in red-ball cricketÂ
Team India batter Shubman Gill has opened up on his decision to move down the order in red-ball cricket. The youngster's switch to No. 3 allowed Yashasvi Jaiswal to come into the picture and open the innings with captain Rohit Sharma.
Gill endured a rough start in his newfound position, recording only 45 runs in three innings during the tour of West Indies in 2023. The barren run continued with a string of mediocre returns during the tour of South Africa.
He was under pressure after a poor start to the home series against England but scored a crucial hundred in the second innings of the second Test in Vizag. He followed it up with a couple of fifties and another hundred to silence the critics and seal his place.
"Even when I was not scoring runs, I always felt I made the right call (to move to number 3). It was never about the number, it was just about my own performance. It was more about me being able to play both spin and pace. In the India A and Ranji Trophy matches I played, I batted at number 5, 4, and 3 as well and scored some runs there, so I was always confident of scoring some runs there apart from opening," Shubman Gill said ahead of Day 4 of the first Test against Bangladesh (via The Indian Express).
Gill began the home season on a dull note, recording an eight-ball duck in the first innings of the ongoing Test against Bangladesh. However, he made amends in the second innings, scoring an unbeaten 119 off 176 to bolster India's lead in Chennai.
"Definitely the punch" - Shubman Gill on his favored stroke between the punch and stepping out to spin
Shubman Gill has emerged as a sound player both off the front foot and back foot. The glimpses of the same have been evident right from his maiden appearance when he stood tall and played the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins off the backfoot.
During his recent century against Bangladesh, he stepped out against Mehidy Hasan Miraz on a number of occasions and executed a clean strike to clear the ropes. When asked which one he prefers of his two trademark strokes, Gill said:
"Definitely the punch - there's a different kind of confidence you get when you stand your ground and punch the bowler down the ground," Gill said (via The Indian Express).
Shubman Gill will be hoping to maintain his form at No. 3 in the remainder of the home season ahead of the crucial Border-Gavaskar series.