In a thrilling display of resilience, Shubman Gill emerged as the hero for India in the fourth Test against England at Ranchi, guiding the team to a five-wicket victory and securing a 3-1 series triumph. Chasing a target of 192 runs, Gill’s patient and composed innings of 52* played a pivotal role in India’s successful run chase.
The match began with an explosive start as openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal comfortably tackled the English bowlers, with Rohit reaching a timely fifty. However, India faced a challenging phase, losing wickets rapidly and slipping to 120/5 after the initial promising partnership. Gill and wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel then stepped up, forming a crucial 72-run partnership that ultimately led India to victory.
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Reflecting on the challenging situation, Shubman Gill mentioned in the post-match interview, “We were put under pressure by them, but we got a good start by our openers. Losing a couple of wickets put pressure. But Jurel came out and took the pressure off. You have to see the situation and play accordingly – they were bowling well and protecting the boundaries, also not giving maidens and keep picking the singles (was the mindset).”
After solid resistance with the bat, Shubman Gill clears the ropes twice and brings up his FIFTY! 😎#TeamIndia only 2 runs away from a win in Ranchi!
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/FUbQ3MhXfH#INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/zahlGUrYQG
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 26, 2024
Shubman Gill, recognizing his responsibility as a top-order batter, exhibited remarkable patience, crafting the slowest fifty of his Test career. Collaborating with Jurel, who was playing his second Test, Gill provided the stability needed to navigate through the challenging period.
“I just told him (Jurel) you batted beautifully in the first innings and to have the same mindset, try to use the feet to negate the off-spinner. The way he came down and played was beautiful,” Shubman Gill praised his partner.
Superb examples from @dhruvjurel21 of how to rotate strike against spin, picking length and steering into gaps. #indveng pic.twitter.com/yaWtn33s3s
— simon hughes (@theanalyst) February 26, 2024
India’s victory was particularly commendable considering the absence of key players like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, who were unavailable due to personal reasons and injury, respectively. Gill expressed gratitude to Rohit Sharma for backing the young players and instilling confidence in them to play with freedom.
“It means the world to us, coming here and having to play the series with not much batting experience, having lost KL after the first Test… but Rohit Bhai backed us and gave us the confidence to go out and play with freedom,” Shubman Gill acknowledged.
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In the end, the collective effort and determination of Gill and Jurel, along with other young talents, secured India’s victory, marking the team’s 17th consecutive Test series win on home soil. The win affirmed the potential and resilience of India’s emerging players, showcasing their ability to step up and deliver in challenging circumstances.
