Young batter Shubman Gill went down the memory lane to India’s historic Gabba Test in the 2020-21 Border Gavaskar Trophy. Going into the Test, the odds were stacked against Ajinkya Rahane and Co. because of Australia’s stupendous record at the venue. But the visitors came out firing on all cylinders and won by three wickets.
The victory also helped India retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as they won the four-match series 2-1 following wins in Melbourne and Brisbane. The now 22-year-old Gill made his Test debut on the very tour, and he notched 259 runs from three games at an average of 43.16.
His top score of 91 came in the second innings of the Gabba Test when India were chasing a target of 328 runs to come up trumps. The Fazilka-born Gill recalled how Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins tried to pepper him with short deliveries.
However, the Young Turk employed different tactics against the two Aussie pacers. Even as he left alone the short balls from Cummins, he decided to take the attack to Starc.
Shubman Gill opens up on his strategies
“He and Cummins were bowling short at us and my idea was to attack Starc. I told myself to only attempt the pull shot against Starc and leave the short balls from Cummins alone. The idea was to hit every bouncer that Starc sent down, and it paid off for me that day,” Gill was quoted as saying to GQ India.
During his knock, Gill smashed eight fours and two sixes and played at a strike rate of 62.32. He was also involved in a crucial 114-run partnership for the second wicket with Cheteshwar Pujara after the visiting team lost Rohit Sharma cheaply.
Gill perished after veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon found his outside edge and Steve Smith took a sharp catch in the slip cordon. Following Gill’s dismissal, it was Rishabh Pant, who guided the Rahane-led India to safer shores in the Test match.
The left-hander got the Player of the Match award for his unbeaten 138-ball knock of 89 with nine fours and one six. As far as Gill is concerned, he has scored 558 runs from 10 Tests at an average of 32.82 with four half-centuries.
