Last Updated: September 16, 2023, 09:48 IST
Shubman Gill scored 121 off 133. (AP Photo)
While majority of the India batters struggled on a slow pitch, Shubman Gill put on a clinic with an impressive century against Bangladesh.
On a pitch that presented a stiff challenge to the batters, Shubman Gill was a class apart from his India peers as he stitched an impressive century, his first in a run-chase, during Asia Cup 2024 Super 4 clash with Bangladesh on Friday.
Gill scored 121 off 133, an innings that featured eight fours and five sixes. The Indian opener’s innings was the prime reason India managed to take the game so deep before falling short of the target of 266 by just seven runs.
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When Gill exited, India still needed 56 off 38 with three wickets remaining and he admits a little miscalculation on his part that ultimately proved decisive despite Axar Patel’s 34-ball 42 later on.
“There is so much adrenaline when you are batting, sometimes you miscalculate and I think that was a miscalculation on my side,” Gill said of his dismissal. “But when you go out and then you see there was a lot of time left and if I would have batted a bit normally or not that aggressively then I think we should have been able to get over the line. But these are the learnings. Fortunately, this game wasn’t the final for us and these are the kind of learnings as a batsman I like to take and like to improve on.”
Gill said India planned to score more square of the wicket rather down the ground considering the nature of the pitch.
“On a slow wicket, dot balls are more. Our aim was to minimise that and rotate the strike. Taking single on this wicket wasn’t easy, especially for the new batters. So we planned to let the ball come closer, generally on a slow wicket, square of the wicket is easier to score rather down the ground. Aim was to play the ball as late as possible,” Gill said.
With India batters continuing to struggle against spinners, is that an area of concern? Gill disagrees but added it’s something they are working to improve on knowing the pitches will get slower during the world cup too.
“We had a camp in Bangalore before coming here and practised on similar surfaces. The World Cup is such a long tournament, and as we go deep into the tournament, the wickets will get slower. It is not easy for batsmen coming in to rotate strike and minimise dot balls. That’s what as a batting unit and bowling group we are looking to overcome,” Gill said.
