In anticipation of India’s Super Four Asia Cup showdown against arch-rivals Pakistan, Shubman Gill, an Indian batsman, acknowledged on Saturday that not frequently facing Pakistan’s high-quality bowling attack has been a factor contributing to India’s struggles against them at times. The India-Pakistan clash is scheduled to take place in Colombo on Sunday.
Shubman Gill addressed India’s challenges when facing Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi in a pre-match press conference, stating, “When you are playing at this level, you have faced left-arm pacers at some point in your career. We do not play against Pakistan as frequently as we do against other teams. They possess a top-notch bowling attack. When you are not accustomed to facing such a bowling attack regularly, it makes a difference.”
Discussing the contrast between himself and his opening partner, captain Rohit Sharma, Gill mentioned that their different styles of play make it difficult for bowlers to contain them.
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“I prefer to play along the ground in the powerplay, while Rohit takes on bowlers aerially. This combination works well for us. Our distinct playing styles make it challenging for bowlers to manage us,” explained Gill.
Regarding his recent dip in form after the Indian Premier League (IPL), Gill acknowledged that sometimes it’s simply the quality of bowling that can outclass a batsman.
“Yes, you reminisce about the good times during a slump. Sometimes it’s not even about technique; it’s about the bowlers who are there to take wickets. You might face some excellent deliveries. When you play well, things tend to go in your favor. You just need to trust your game and keep striving for those big runs,” he remarked.
Shubman Gill on Shaheen Shah Afridi & Naseem Shah “They’re different kind of bowlers. Every bowler has their own area of expertise. Shaheen mostly swings the ball. Naseem uses pace, and if he is getting help from the wicket, he sets the area accordingly” #AsiaCup23 #PakvsInd
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) September 9, 2023
When asked if players pay attention to and emulate Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s batting, Shubman Gill agreed and described him as a “world-class player.”
“Yes, definitely, we follow him. When a player is performing well, everyone watches to figure out why they are doing so well, what makes them special. The same applies to Babar. He is a world-class player, and we all admire him,” Shubman Gill confirmed.
Regarding the differences in the bowling styles of Pakistan pacers Shaheen and Naseem Shah, Gill stated that the former generates more swing, while the latter possesses greater pace and bowls in good areas. Gill emphasized that the team is clear about their roles and batting positions heading into the ICC Cricket World Cup, which is set to commence on October 5.
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Discussing the team’s batting strategies, Shubman Gill mentioned, “Our plans remain consistent: to establish a solid foundation and then dominate. In our last game against Pakistan, our top order didn’t perform well. Nevertheless, we managed to score around 260 runs and seemed poised to reach 310-320 runs on that pitch at some point. These are positive signs.”
