NEW DELHI: India batter Shubman Gill reflected on his recent struggles in red-ball cricket following his composed second-innings century for Punjab against Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy. While his 102-run effort showcased his undeniable talent, it came in a heavy defeat as Karnataka triumphed by an innings and 207 runs.
“Red-ball batting is a concern,” Gill conceded candidly. “Sometimes, I think with the red ball, in the matches that I play, I get very good 25-30 runs. I think in those moments, I put too much pressure on myself to score big runs. That’s not the way I have grown up playing my game.”
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The elegant right-hander admitted that overthinking has often disrupted his rhythm. “There is a certain zone that I am in, certain intent that I am in, and sometimes I lose that because I put too much pressure on myself that I have to get a big run now that I am set,” he explained.
Gill’s century, which included measured resilience early on and aggression later, was satisfying, especially after his dismissal off an inside edge in the first innings. “I think this innings was very satisfying for me, the way I played,” he said. “In the first 130 balls, I scored 40-odd runs. They were bowling well, and there was some help in the wicket as well. Keeping that in mind, I was very satisfied with the way I was playing.”
Reflecting on his approach, he added, “After lunch, I just thought to play a little bit more of my shots. The wickets were falling from one end, so I wanted to make sure I was getting some runs as well.”
Gill acknowledged that competitive match practice is invaluable, no matter how much preparation a player undertakes in training. “When you’re playing at any level, certain aspects of your game are challenged that you can’t replicate in practice. So, if there’s enough of a gap before the next series, I think it’s very helpful to play matches,” he remarked.
Gill’s introspection and gritty century underscore his commitment to addressing his red-ball challenges as he looks to reclaim consistency in the format.