Shubman Gill maintained a positive mindset when India faced early pressure at 19/2 in the sixth over while chasing 249 in 50 overs against England.
Gill, named Player of the Match, scored 87 runs and formed vital partnerships with Shreyas Iyer (59) and Axar Patel (52). This led India to a four-wicket victory over England in the first ODI at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Thursday.
India played without Virat Kohli, who was sidelined due to a sore right knee. The early dismissals of Yashasvi Jaiswal (15) and Rohit Sharma (2) put India in a challenging position, but Gill's sensible batting and Iyer's counter-attacking approach steadied the innings.
"Trying to be positive. There was a little in it for fast bowlers. (The) idea was not to go too much on the back foot and play good cricketing shots. When a player (Iyer) comes like that, the opposition also goes on the back foot. Good decision on his (Iyer's) part also helped me," said Gill in the post-match presentation.
The batting conditions became more challenging as the wicket turned sticky in the second innings.
"I thought it was a bit double-paced. Spinners varied their pace well, when they bowled slow, it was turning. Had it in mind to look to the square of the wicket and not try to hit down the ground," said Gill.
Gill's recent promotion to vice-captain hasn't significantly impacted his batting approach, but it has enhanced his on-field responsibilities.
"In batting not much has changed, but on the field, I want to know what the thinking is and what Rohit bhai thinks and give my inputs. He tells me if you want to tell me anything in the match, do not hesitate," said Gill.
The upcoming Champions Trophy in Dubai presents an opportunity for Gill to build on his performance in the remaining two ODIs against England.
Stay updated on the latest sports news and know how to watch ICC Champions Trophy live in Canada and the USA, including the much-awaited India vs Pakistan clash, India vs Bangladesh and India vs New Zealand.The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment