Shubman Gill, a batsman for Team India, led the team to a five-wicket victory in the last innings of the fourth Test match against England at Ranchi with an undefeated half-century. With one game remaining, it enabled the host team to win the five-match series.
Undoubtedly, Gill delivered one of his finest innings in his brief Test career thus far, not because of volume but more because of the intense strain and difficult circumstances.
With Dhruv Jurel at the other end, Gill and the batsman put up an undefeated 72-run partnership for the fifth wicket. In rapid order, spinners claimed the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Rajat Patidar, and Sarfaraz Khan, leaving the right-handed batsman alone at one end.
Gill thought back to his talk, far back in the middle, with Dhruv Jurel, during their winning combination. He said he informed the wicketkeeper-batter about his exploits in the opening session, when he batted alongside the tail and scored ninety runs.
“I just told him (Jurel) you batted beautifully in the first innings and to have the same mindset, try to use the feet to negate the off-spinner. The way he came down and played was beautiful,” Gill told the broadcasters in a post-match interaction.
Shubman Gill
Gill also added that the series victory is monumental considering the obstacles that India had to maneuver through. The hosts played without Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami the entire series, while KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja also endured injuries midway.
“The first innings the ball was not turning much and hence I didn’t use my feet, but second innings I decided to take the LBW out of the equation by using my feet. It means the world to us, coming here and having to play the series with not much batting experience, having lost KL after the first Test.. but Rohit Bhai backed us and gave us the confidence to go out and play with freedom.”
Shubman Gill
Even though they may have been in control of the matches in Rajkot and Ranchi, Team India shown a strong will to turn the tide and win their 17th straight Test series at home.
“You have to see the situation and play accordingly” – Shubman Gill
In addition, Shubman Gill was under pressure because of his patchy performances in South Africa and the West Indies at No. 3. Despite not having a great start to the series, he bounced back with a century in Vishakapatnam and a solid 91 in Rajkot. Finally, of all the ones, his undefeated fifty in Ranchi seems to be the most significant.
Gill discussed the tight bowling of the England team and gave thanks to Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, the opening batsmen, for setting the stage.
“We were put under pressure by them, but we got a good start by our openers, losing couple of wickets put pressure. But Jurel came out and took the pressure off. You have to see the situation and play accordingly – they were bowling well and protecting the boundaries, also not giving maidens and keep picking the singles (was the mindset).”
Shubman Gill
The series finale between India and England will take place in Dharamsala starting on March 7.