Shubman Gill’s father and first coach, Lakhwinder, commends his son’s return to form in Test cricket, attributing it to Shubman’s renewed tendency to step out to bowlers. Despite Shubman’s success, Lakhwinder disagrees with his decision to bat at number three, expressing a preference for him to continue opening.
“Stepping out has made a big difference; he had stopped doing that and that created pressure. The whole game is about confidence, and when you get one good innings, you are back to your best,” notes Lakhwinder. He emphasizes Shubman’s historical approach of stepping out, a strategy employed since his U-16 days, citing the importance of playing one’s natural game to alleviate pressure.
Shubman’s notable innings, including a maiden hundred in the Vizag Test, saw him confidently charge down the track to both spinners and pacers. Lakhwinder appreciates his son’s signature square cut and cover drive on display at the HPCA Stadium.
However, Lakhwinder disagrees with Shubman’s shift to the number three spot.
Shubman Gill scored another Test ton
He said, “He should have continued to open. It is not right at all, I feel. Number 3 is not opening, neither is it a middle-order spot. Plus, his game is not like that; it suits the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, who has a defensive game. Despite his disagreement, Lakhwinder respects Shubman’s autonomy in decision-making, stating, “I don’t interfere in his decisions. I just train with him. He is old enough to make his own decisions.”
While acknowledging the BCCI’s mandate for Ranji Trophy appearances, Lakhwinder highlights the challenge of balancing a busy calendar dominated by white-ball training. He appreciates the BCCI’s initiative in making red-ball training mandatory for India players not on national duty, recognizing its impact on enhancing players’ skills against spinners in Test cricket.
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