Shubman Gill’s remarkable turnaround in Test cricket during the England series earlier this year can be attributed to his meticulous work on defensive batting, the 24-year-old has revealed.
Gill, who has an average of 35.52 after 25 Tests, amassed 452 runs in the home series against England, showcasing a significant improvement in his ability to withstand the rigors of Test cricket.
“I worked on my defense a little bit more, especially against the spinners,” Gill told ESPNCricinfo, as quoted by the ICC. “If you’re playing on a turning track, you should be able to defend a lot more, then you play your scoring shots.”
Gill’s focus on defensive batting stemmed from his realization that batting-friendly tracks in white-ball games can erode a player’s defensive skills over time. “I feel it [batting-friendly tracks in white-ball games] takes away a little bit of your defensive game over a period of time,” he said. “So that was my focus in the England series.”
Gill’s defensive improvements were evident in his crucial hundred in the second Test in Vizag, where he played a patient and composed innings on a challenging pitch. He finished the series with an average of 56.5, a testament to his newfound defensive prowess.
Gill’s resurgence in Test cricket is a positive sign for India, who will be looking to him to play a key role in their upcoming series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. These series will serve as crucial preparation for the Border Gavaskar Trophy later this year, where India will face their arch-rivals Australia in a four-match Test series.
With his improved defensive technique and growing experience, Gill is poised to become a mainstay in India’s Test batting lineup for years to come.
