Was putting myself under too much pressure during my bad spell: Gill
Shubman Gill doesn’t mind getting out while batting aggressively but contrary to his nature, he gets frustrated when he gets out while playing a defensive shot. In the Fourth Test against Australia, Gill scored 128 as India posted 289 for three in their first innings in reply to Australia’s 480 after the third day’s play. Gill, who is running in excellent rhythm, has played six century innings in the last three months. This includes two centuries in Tests, one in T20 Internationals and three centuries in ODIs. He also scored a double century in ODIs during this period.
Gill was asked here on Saturday after the third day’s play what he talks to himself when he is going through a bad phase. He said, “I have seen a phase in the middle when I was getting out after scoring around 40 and 50 (52 and 44 against New Zealand in 2021). When I played the fifth Test in England, I scored around 20 (17) and got out early in that innings. Was being cautious. I was starting to think that now I have to bat as long as possible.
I was putting myself under too much pressure. It was not my natural game. “Once I settle down at the crease, I kind of get into a rhythm and that is my game. So I had to tell myself that if I get out playing my natural game, it is okay. But the problem was that I was getting out with defensive batting. “He said,” In such a situation, I had to convince myself that without putting too much pressure on myself, I have to convert my starts into big innings with my natural game. It is about the mental aspect. Gill said that the pitch of Motera ground is not easy for batting.
He said, “I think it is difficult to score quick runs on such a pitch, but it is also important that you stay positive and keep running and looking for opportunities to steal runs.” Nathan Lyon during his innings Visible six off the ball. When asked about this, he said, “Rohit Sharma also expressed a little surprise at this shot of mine. But I said it was my shot. If the off-spinner is bowling on a good wicket and the fielder is not far away, I will try to hit over him.
