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"We also like to pull his leg to make him bowl” - Shubman Gill on facing bowling coach ahead of BGT 2024-25 3rd Test

Team India batter Shubman Gill said the players playfully pull bowling coach Morne Morkel's leg to make him bowl at them during nets sessions ahead of the third Test against Australia. With the series tied at 1-1, India will play Australia in the all-important third Test it Brisbane, starting Saturday, December 14.

Gill missed the opening Test which India won by 295 runs due to injury but returned for the second Test in Adelaide. Despite looking solid in both innings, the 25-year-old missed a big score by being dismissed for 31 and 28, respectively.

About facing Morkel in the nets at the press conference on the eve of the Brisbane Test, Gill was quoted as saying by TOI:

"He likes to challenge us. How he used to bowl back in his day. We also like to pull his leg to make him bowl."

Morkel was seen bowling to the Indian batters at practice in the build-up to the Brisbane outing. The former South African pacer has been part of Test series-winning teams in Australia in 2008 and 2012.

Gill also spoke about the challenges of playing at Brisbane.

"I think the intensity with which games are played here is what makes it challenging. The mental intensity and fitness that's required here. Conditions are challenging but I think 35 overs till second new ball it gets easier to bat. It's about mental fitness," he claimed.
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Australia have enjoyed incredible success at the venue, winning 42 out of their 66 Tests with only 10 defeats. Meanwhile, India has tasted victory only once in seven Tests in Brisbane.


"This generation doesn't think about who's bowling and just look at the ball" - Shubman Gill

India Test Squad Training Session - Source: Getty
India Test Squad Training Session - Source: Getty

Shubman Gill asserted that the Indian batters are confident about delivering the goods in the upcoming Brisbane Test despite the struggles in Adelaide.

India were bowled out for paltry totals of 180 and 175 in their 10-wicket defeat in the second Test.

"The discussion was about firing together as a batting group in the first innings after the Adelaide Test. You'll be afraid if you have not won. We have won last time and even in India. This generation doesn't think about who's bowling and just look at the ball," said Gill.

The youngster also acknowledged that he felt nostalgic returning to the venue where India pulled off a memorable series win in their previous Australian Test tour in 2020-21.

With the series nodded at 1-1, Team India successfully chased down 328 in the final innings of the Brisbane Test to clinch a 2-1 series victory. Gill top-scored for India in their run-chase with a stylish 91 off 146 deliveries.

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