Team India batter Shubman Gill opened up on his recent struggling phase in Test cricket. He expressed that he did not care much about the outside noise, but was disappointed to not be able to live up to his expectations.
Shubman Gill was struggling for form in red-ball cricket for India. He had failed to put on substantial scores and had an average of less than 30 in the last three years in the format. From the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia to the opening Test against England in Hyderabad, Gill failed to score a single half-century. However, he rediscovered his form, slamming a century in the Vizag Test.
Talking about the lean patch, Shubman Gill said in the press conference,
“It’s difficult as you keep thinking about a lot of things. I did not care much about expectations from the outside, but I was disappointed as I was not able to live up to my expectations. It’s important that when you get a second chance, you only focus on what’s ahead and play the ball on its merit.”
“The difference between big players and average players is how you forget about the past and focus on the present,” he added.
Players are doing well in the opportunities that they are getting: Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill also spoke about the absence of Virat Kohli in the ongoing test series against England. He expressed that the players who have gotten an opportunity have done well in the veteran’s absence. He cited the example of Sarfaraz Khan, who made his debut in the Rajkot test and slammed the fifties in both innings. Shubman Gill said,
“Virat bhai is not with us for the last three Tests, and yes, the absence of a player in his class makes a bit of difference. But I think Sarfaraz came in and played well. So I think players are doing well in the opportunities that they are getting.”
“The young players have got the opportunity because Virat bhai or Bumrah bhai are not there. So, those youngsters also know that this opportunity might not remain with them for long, so they are trying to give their best in every opportunity,” he added.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.