India’s greenhorn batsman Shubman Gill was one of the biggest finds for the Indian team on the recently concluded series against Australia.
Gill has shed light on what motivated him to perform the way he did on the Australian tour. The 21-year-old revealed that 36 all-out in the second innings of Adelaide was the catalyst that motivated him to give his best.
Gill stated that he didn’t want the Test series to be remembered for India’s Adelaide collapse. The prodigy batsman made an impressive debut as he scored 45 and 35* and thus contributed to India’s win in the Boxing Day Test match. Subsequently, Gill scored his maiden fifty in the Sydney Test match.
Gill’s best knock of the series came in the fourth Test match when he scored 91 runs in the second innings of the Gabba Test match. Rohit Sharma was dismissed early and thus India’s hope of chasing down 328 runs had taken a setback. However, Gill played his shots and kept the scoring rate as Cheteshwar Pujara blocked one end.
Gill’s 91 was instrumental in setting up the foundation of the run-chase and then Rishabh Pant was able to take the team over the line with his blistering knock of 89 runs.
“When the 36-all-out happened in Adelaide, it was really shocking for us. We didn’t know how to react because everything happened so quickly. We didn’t get the time to absorb it. We were in a comfortable position in the match, and in an hour everything changed. I realized that at this level everything can change this fast. What really triggered me was that the day after this incident there was a news item that said “the great Adelaide collapse”. I was reading it and all I could think at that time was that I don’t want the series to be remembered in terms of the collapse. Before our first match [in Adelaide], I knew I’ll get to debut in the MCG match. I really wanted to contribute in my way and wanted to turn things around,” said Shubman Gill while talking to Forbes India.
On the other hand, Gill revealed that he had to take a sleeping pill on the night of the second Test match at the MCG when he was informed that he will be making his Test debut.
Gill went on to score 259 runs in three Test matches at an average of 51.80 and thus had a perfect start to his Test career. The right-hander has now sealed his place as a Test opener by delivering the goods against a potent Australian bowling line-up in their own conditions.
Gill is likely to open the innings with Rohit Sharma in the upcoming four-match Test series against England.
