Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak opined on Shubman Gill’s sublime form in England after taking over the captaincy in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Talking about Gill’s form, particularly with the bat, Kotak opined on the change in mindset and technical adjustments as well. Kotak also commented on the responsibility of leadership as well.
“I don’t think it’s because of the captaincy that things have changed. I feel it’s more about his mindset. I had seen it back in Australia during our initial practice match, and later in the India series-his mindset back then and now has definitely changed. There has definitely been a technical change too. He thought about it, made some adjustments, and is still working on it-which every batsman does silently,” Kotak said.
However, Team India held their first training session at Lord’s in preparation for the third Test starting on 10 July as well.
“So I think it’s much more about his mindset. He’s now in a frame of mind where he wants to spend time at the crease. And as I’ve said before, his skill is such that any loose ball he gets, he converts it into a boundary. He’s scoring hundreds in 140 or 150 balls quite regularly,” Kotak further added.
When Shubman Gill was named India’s Test captain in June, many raised questions over whether he deserved the role. Critics also pointed to his modest overseas record, particularly in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia), where he averaged only 25.70 with only two fifties in 11 Tests. However, that average has now moved to 45.79 after a record-breaking spree in the first two Tests of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy as well.
“I would say it’s more mental, and yes, definitely a bit of a technical adjustment he’s made. But I think it’s mainly mental-the determination I’ve seen in the way he’s batted. Everyone must have noticed: In the first game, second innings, he played a shot early on that he later admitted was premature. He spoke about it. Then in the next Test, he didn’t play a single shot until he was properly set. So yes, it’s a lot more mental,” Sitanshu Kotak concluded.
