Shubman Gill Admits 'Red-Ball Batting Is A Concern', Says 'I Sometimes Lose Focus'
Shubman Gill played three matches for India in the recently concluded 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but was only able to score 93 runs.
Star Indian batter Shubman Gill has admitted that his batting in red-ball cricket is a concern for him. According to Gill, who scored a century (102) for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match played against Karnataka in Bengaluru on Saturday, he puts a lot of pressure on himself after getting a good start of 25-30 runs and loses focus and concentration.
Gill played three Tests for India in the recently concluded five-match series against Australia but was only able to score 93 runs. His flop show with the bat invited a lot of criticism for him.
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“Red-ball batting is a concern. Sometimes, I think with the red ball, in the matches that I play, I get very good 25-30 runs. I think in those moments, sometimes I put too much pressure on myself to be able to score big runs. I think that is not the way that I have grown up playing my game," Gill was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
The 25-year-old right-handed batter, who made his Test debut for India in December 2020 against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, feels that he gets into a zone where he puts too much pressure on himself.
“There is a certain zone that I am in, a certain intent that I am in, and sometimes I think I lose that because I put too much pressure on myself that I have to get a big run now that I am set.
“I think in those crucial moments, I sometimes lose my focus and concentration. I think it keeps you in the game all the time.
“As a person, I like to be involved in the game and what is happening. I think it brings out the best in me as a player when I am constantly involved in the game," he added.
Gill was one of the many India Test regulars who played in the sixth round of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25. Speaking about his performance in the must-win match for Punjab, Gill said, “I think any innings that we play at any level, it’s very important to be able to get runs, get back in form, and have that feel. When you are playing well, when you are in that zone, it’s important to stay in that zone as long as possible, and that’s what I was trying to do when I was batting there."
According to Gill, his knock of 102 runs in the second innings of the match was very satisfying.
“I think this innings was very satisfying for me, the way I played. The first, I think, in 130 balls, I scored 40-odd runs, and they were bowling well, and there was some help in the wicket as well. So, keeping that in mind, I think I was very satisfied with the way that I was playing.
“After the lunch, I just thought to play a little bit more of my shots. Also, the wickets were falling from one end. So, I wanted to make sure that I am getting some runs as well, playing some shots."
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