'I was obviously very disappointed': Shubman Gill Reflects On What Rekindled His Confidence

After getting out on a duck in the first innings, Shubman Gill made a spectacular return in the second innings, scoring a ton to put India in the winning position in the Chennai Test. He along with Rishabh Pant put Bangladesh under immense pressure on Day 3 and courtesy of a century knock from both players, India gave a momentous target of 515 runs.

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Shubman Gill gives a breakdown of his innings

Shubman Gill on Saturday went old-school in using his feet to nullify Bangladesh spinners on a pitch that had a hint of variable bounce, and the India batter said it was a part of his meticulous approach to unsettle the visiting tweakers. Gill made an unbeaten 119 that led India to 287 for four declared in their second innings for a hefty overall lead of 514 on the third day of the first Test.

“Initially when I used to practice, especially against spinners, I used to step down trying to rotate. It's the same here because it's hard for bowlers to settle on a wicket like this where the odd one is turning but not all the balls are turning,” Gill told reporters in the post-day press meet.

That strategy was on view when he stepped out to hammer off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a six in the 64th over, while a few overs earlier he meted out the same treatment to Shakib Al-Hasan.

On that occasion, Gill shimmied down to slap a flighted delivery from the left-arm spinner to the fence to collect four runs.

Gill said he has been training to use his feet against the spinners from a very young age, and kept adding new layers as the age advanced.

“It's something that I started practising when I was very young because I was always a tall guy. So, it was easier for me to use my feet and play along the ground. Playing in the air and hitting sixes actually came a bit later when I got a little bit more power in my body,” he explained.

“Definitely, scoring runs against any opposition gives you a lot of confidence and that's what I have been working on. So, it (scoring against spinners) gives me a lot of satisfaction. I practiced a lot before the series,” Gill added.

The day’s hundred was Gill’s third ton in his last eight Test innings, with the other two coming against England at Visakhapatnam and Dharamsala earlier this year.

The 25-year-old admitted that the series against the 'Three Lions' where he scored nearly 500 runs has boosted his self-belief in the longest format.

“I think the series that I had against England gave me a lot of confidence. I felt it was a long time coming for me, especially batting at that position (No. 3). And having got out the way I got out in the first innings (down the leg-side), I was obviously very disappointed.

“But it further motivated me to be able to spend a lot of time on the crease and put extra value on my wicket. I think my best is yet to come,” he noted.

(With inputs from PTI)