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India’s top-order batter Shubman Gill answered critics who questioned his place in the team after a string of low scores at no.3. Even legendary Anil Kumble questioned the number of chances he got ahead of veteran Cheteshwar Pujara. On Day 3 of the second Test, Gill slammed his career’s third Test ton and first at non-opening position.
In the press conference after the day’s play, he was asked about the widespread criticism following his struggles in red-ball cricket to which he replied, “That is part and parcel of the game.”
“If you do well, everyone will applaud you. It is important to know what you will do when you go out to bat. I like to bat according to the situation. I like to play percentage cricket.”
Iyer had two reviews go his way early in the innings. England bowlers created pressure on Iyer and Shreyas Iyer before they broke the shackles. Gill revealed what the plan was in the first session.
“I was taking it one ball at a time. There was a lot happening in and around the crease. Me and Shreyas had a good stand. If the ball is there to be hit, we will hit. Otherwise, we will take singles,” he said.
Gill did not have a single half-century in the last 10 innings in Test cricket before notching up his third Test ton. It did not make Gill adopt a certain approach but stay true to his nature.
“I think it is very important to stay true to what you are. If you are trying to be over aggressive or over defensive, you are sometimes not able to get out of that shell. Going into this Test, I was going to play the way how I have in the past,” he explained.
He also talked about the influence of his father who was in the stands when Gill ended his century drought in Test cricket. “My father comes for all games in India. He has seen me scoring and not scoring runs. He is my only constant,” the youngster said.
While Gill said that the invariable bounce on the pitch will make it tough for England batters on Day 4, he did not write off England in the run chase. However, he feels that conditions are different than Edgbaston when England chased down 378.
“England is never out of the game. I think this is a different wicket than the one we played in Edgbaston. The morning session will be very important. There is moisture at the start of play. That will be the key.” he said.
England were 67/1 at the end of the day’s play. They need 332 more runs to pull off the highest successful run chase on Indian soil.
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