Last 20 days have been nothing short of an edge-of-the-seat roller-coaster ride for Shubman Gill. From scoring a “nervous” hundred in Visakhapatnam to getting out for a duck in the first Rajkot innings to then getting run out for 91 in the second innings, he has experienced plenty of extreme emotions in a very short period.
Quite naturally, a player tends to go into an overthinking mode during that period, and Gill did too. It wasn’t the outside noise but falling short of his own expectations that were hurting the right-hander most. He turned up in Rajkot with some runs under his belt but the calmness was missing, and it was evident from the nine deliveries he faced. That fear of the incoming delivery has often forced him into an awkward position, where he ends up jabbing anything outside off, and that first innings dismissal – nicking a Mark Wood delivery to Ben Foakes behind the stumps – was one of those.
Head down, he made the long walk back to the dressing room but was determined to course correct and iron out the technical flaw, and more importantly return to a calmer headspace.
Early in the morning before Day 2 got underway, Gill was in the nets with head coach Rahul Dravid and batting coach Vikram Rathour working on that trigger movement. It wasn’t a usual sight to see a member of India Playing XI squeeze in a net session when a Test is underway but Gill wanted to get his alignment and trigger in order, and return much tighter in the second innings. Not only did he manage to do that but looked much calmer and composed during his time in the middle.
“We were in a good position in the Rajkot Test, had a good lead. So keeping all those things in mind, I can say it was a much calmer and composed innings,” says Gill on the 91 in the second innings.
When the runs weren’t coming, Gill was more focused on forgetting what had happened in the previous innings or match, and just looking forward. Multiple thoughts kept creeping in but the talented right-hander didn’t waste too much energy on past failures or outings.
“Even in those times, it’s important to forget what has happened in the past or last innings. The difference between an average player and a big player is how they move on and give their best in the next innings,” says Gill on how he remained positive during the lean patch.
Gill at No.3, a position he asked from the team management, has been one of the most significant moves during India’s transition period in the format but having done that for India A and Punjab in the domestic circuit, it isn’t something new for the 24-year-old. Yes, there have been more failures than successful outings but a hundred and 91 in the Tests vs England would do his confidence a world of good.
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While it just looks a position down from the opening slot to the outsiders, it is certainly a very tricky number to bat at and has tested even the best in the business. The exposure has been no different for Gill who reckons it’s more about playing as per situations you would normally dictate as an opener.
“I have played for India A at No.3 and No.4 in the past and some Ranji Trophy matches as well. So it wasn’t something that I had never done in my life. There aren’t any technical changes I did to my game but it’s different from opening, where you don’t get that much time to think. You are fielding, the toss happens and you are in the middle.
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While opening you are the one who sets the tone but while in the middle-order or say No.3 or No.4, you get a certain situation to bat in. There might be a situation where a couple of wickets have fallen early and you are setting the stage. When you are opening, you are dictating the terms and play as per the situation in the middle-order,” explains Gill.
With the experienced players Virat Kohli and KL Rahul missing from action, Gill’s return to runs, and the calmer headspace, is a big boost for the Indian cricket team. As far as Gill is concerned, he would hope the thrills and chills of the roller-coaster are well behind him and there is just a calm drive ahead.
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