The defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) are slated to take on former holders Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Friday (May 5).
Meanwhile right ahead of the clash of champions, GT's star batter Shubman Gill, who has played a significantly instrumental role in his team's success both in IPL 2022 and IPL 2023, has revealed how he has handled instant stardom and success after rising to fame in cricket. He said that he doesn't have many ‘Yes people’ around him which helps in maintaining balance and right approach for the game he always aspired to play since his childhood.
"I think it has a lot to do with the upbringing and the friends around me. I don't have many 'yes people' (hanger ons) around me. I have more friends around me who are challenging my decisions, whatever they may be on field or off field. So that really helps," Gill said.
"I think I can give my inputs on how the batter might be thinking right now. It is important sometimes in that situation as a bowler, there is so much going on -- you have to see the field, you have to see where you want to bowl that sometimes you don't focus on what the batter is trying to do, or where he is trying to hit you. So I think those inputs are important," he added.
Beside his recent heroics in the ongoing IPL which has so far seen Gill amassing 339 runs in nine matches riding on three fifties, the 23-year-old has already scored seven international hundreds across formats through the last season with a staggering 65 plus average after 24 ODI games. He has also cracked a hundred in T20Is boasts of a strike rate more than 165.
Having excelled in all the three formats, Gill believes the switch is more mental rather than technical.
"Different formats do require different preparations but I think preparation is more mental than technical. For me, personally, I feel I have the technique for all formats but it is important to have that mental switch as to when to play what game and when to play a situation. It is more mental than technical," Gill said.
Gill also gave his two cents on the most talked topic of strike rate as he said,"I think strike-rate does have importance in T20. The more you will score, the more cushion your bowlers will have. Even if you are chasing a higher total, strike rate does play an important role. But, especially looking at this year, low scoring games have been difficult in chases. Strike rate is definitely important but it's a bit over-rated, because, as a batter, you should be able to play in all situations and conditions."
“You should not have a set pattern for your game. You should be able to break your game and play according to the situation that may require you to play at a 110 strike-rate, or at a 200 strike-rate. As a batter, you should be able to manoeuvre between conditions and situations,” he further added.
The flamboyant batter also opened up on his journey with GT and playing under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya.
"I feel very comfortable in my role that I am playing at Gujarat Titans. I think it has a lot to do with the team environment we have here. All of us, collectively as a team, are playing really well, so that obviously helps you as an individual to grow and express yourself. I think he is a very open captain. Like I said many times, he gives you the freedom as a player to play how you want to play the game."
Gill also has the all-important World Test Championship (WTC) final in his head which will he his biggest challenge so far. He feels that the defeat against
New Zealand in the 2021 WTC final will be a motivating factor for the team.
"I think that is going to be a really important five days for us. We have worked really hard as a team over the last couple of years, having played the last WTC final in Southampton against New Zealand and having that result not go our way, and that is really motivating us.
"I am really looking forward to go to England and play against Australia," Gill concluded.
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