India’s Test debutant Shubman Gill had a glittering debut as he impressed one and all with his attractive strokeplay. Gill gave a rollicking start to the team as he scored his runs at a good pace and took the attack against the Australian fast bowlers. The youngster timed the ball to perfection and showed that he has a bright future ahead of him.
However, Gill made the mistake of going hard at the ball when he was well-settled. The 21-year old tried to drive Pat Cummins through the covers but could only manage a faint edge. The prodigy batsman was disappointed with the way he got out and admitted that it was a loose shot. But at the same time, Gill revealed that he wanted to play with intent and express himself when he went out to bat.
“Not really satisfied with the way I got out. It was the last ball of Pat Cummins’ spell and I should have navigated through it. It was a loose shot to play at that moment. But my overall goal of playing with intent, building partnerships if an early wicket falls, was executed nicely to some extent. But I felt bad for the way I got out,” Gill said.
“The ball was moving when I came. The only thing which I said to myself was that no matter what is happening on the pitch or around me, I should play and express myself. Playing with intent was my thought process,” the debutant said.
Shubman Gill has shown skills to go a long way in his career and he will get a lot of opportunities to prove his mettle. The youngster from Punjab has started his Test career on the right note and he is only expected to get better with time. In fact, former Australian legendary fast bowler Glenn McGrath stated that Gill showed he belongs to the International level.
Gill showed intent in his stroke play and played some flamboyant shots in his knock of 45 runs. The right-hander scored eight fours as he drove and pulled with aplomb. It was imperative for India that Gill played with confidence as the visitors had lost the early wicket of Mayank Agarwal on the opening day.
In fact, Gill has a first-class average of 68.78 and he has earned his place in the Test team. The youngster will look to correct his mistake in the second innings of the ongoing Test match, if he gets a chance.
