Despite the fact that the IPL 2023 season extends into May, Indian opener Shubman Gill believes the squad has plenty of time to prepare for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia.
The IPl concludes on May 28, while the WTC final begins on June 7. This has concerned some Indian supporters, who believe the squad would not have enough time to adjust to the conditions at The Oval in England.
Shubman Gill, speaking exclusively to TOI, revealed how vital it is for him to concentrate on the mental side of things when it comes to changing new formats. He stated:
“I think we will get about 10 days before we play the (WTC) final. That will be good enough for us to prepare for that important match. For me, it is more mental rather than technical or physical.”
Shubman Gill on focusing on timing rather than power
Shubman Gill has had a golden run in the last months across every format and has also been a regular for India. He has made significant progress in T20 cricket, scoring a T20I century and performing admirably for the Gujarat Titans (GT).
Gill discussed how he focused on timing the ball even when attempting to clear the boundary. He stated,
“I think it is important to realize what is your game and realize that I can hit the ball further with timing rather than power. This is something that every batter should be able to realize (about their game). That is why I focus on more timing than power.”
Gill also spoke about how he adjusts his game to play different shots when needed and added:
“I think it is about knowing what moment to play the right shots. Sometimes, I do play the odd one like reverse sweeping or switch hitting but that is only when I think the bowler is going to bowl to me in a certain area. That’s when I know for sure I can’t hit the ball down the ground.”
With injuries to key batters like Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer, India’s hopes in the WTC final will lie on Shubman Gill.