Talented Indian opener Shubman Gill is pleased that he has got full support from captain Rohit Sharma and the team management, which allowed him to play his “natural game” in the first ODI against Sri Lanka. A day after Rohit stated that he preferred Gill in the opener’s slot over in-form Ishan Kishan. Gill repaid the faith with a well-made 70 from 60 balls to set up India’s massive 67-run win over Sri Lanka in the first ODI on Tuesday.
“It feels good when your captain backs you. This was the conversation we had in the practice sessions that I would look to play my natural game whatever I’m doing in the one-dayers. Just look to continue the momentum,” Gill said at the post-match media interaction.
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Shubman Gill had a great 2022 in the ODI format, scoring 638 runs from 12 innings at an average of 70.88 as well, including his maiden century and four fifties too. Continuing where he left off, he started 2023 with another fifty as he and Rohit Sharma added a 143-run opening stand that set the stage for India’s mammoth 373/7 as well. Shubman, however, missed out on a century as well.
“We batted mainly in the Tests. It’s nice to bat with him (Rohit). The conversation is generally about which bowler to target, what are they trying to do, where are they trying to block our runs. Accordingly, we made our plans. Definitely, I was very disappointed to get out on 70. I did all the hard work to get going and get a big one for the team. I got out in the 20th over, I had about 30 overs to bat,” Shubman Gill added.
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“I don’t think bowling is a concern, we bowled pretty well. We got them eight down on that wicket and there was dew as well. It was not easy bowl when you are bowling second with that much dew. It’s not easy to control the wet ball. Sometimes the spinners can go out of the game but that did not happen in this match. Both Yuzi (Yuzvendra Chahal) bhai and Axar (Patel) bhai bowled really well. It’s a challenge to field as well, sometimes the balls skids off the field and it’s hard to catch the ball because its wet. It’s like playing with butter in your hands. it’s not easy to bowl when there’s dew,” Shubman Gill concluded.
