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Shubman Gill said he did not get carried away while approaching his century as he was dimissed after scoring 87 runs off 96 balls.
IND vs ENG, 1st ODI: Shubman Gill after getting out on 87 (AP)
Shubman Gill starred with the bat to help India beat England by four wickets in the first one-day international at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Thursday
After steering India to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with a calm 87, vice-captain said he was not focused on getting his century, and was just looking at the field placements set for him.
Gill said he did not get carried away while approaching his century, adding that he would have played the shot, which ultimately got him, even if he was in his 60s.
Jos Buttler took a diving catch at mid-on off Saqib Mahmood’s bowling as Gill, trying to pace the innings, mis-timed a shot to leave India at 235/6.
“No, I wasn’t thinking about my century. I was focused on the field placements and played my shots accordingly. I wanted to dominate the bowler, and I would have played the same shot even if I was in my 60s,” said Gill to Disney+ Hotstar.
Gill, who usually opens the innings in ODIs, said he had no problem coming in at No.3 in the series against England.
“I play at No. 3 in Tests, so it wasn’t a big adjustment. It’s always a challenge at that position because you have to adapt to the game situation. If the team loses quick wickets, you need to play sensibly. If the team starts well, you need to carry the momentum. My approach was simple—play according to the situation.”
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Talking about his partnership with Shreyas Iyer, who made 59, Gill said, “We lost two early wickets, but the plan was to play according to the field and not hold back. After a few overs, the line and lengths became predictable, which helped us score faster.”
Asked about younger Indian batters frequently using the sweep and reverse sweep against spinners, Gill said, “It’s an individual choice, not a team strategy. Every batsman has a plan to target specific areas. Many players are practicing sweeps and reverse sweeps in the nets to have more options while batting.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
- Location :
Nagpur, India, India
