NEWS
Follow UsShubman Gill didn’t shy away from accepting that he hasn’t managed to match his “own expectations” in Test cricket. The right-hander has played 25 red-ball games for India, scoring 1492 runs at a middling average of 35.52. He has four tons and six fifties to his name.
"Yes, I've not been up to my own expectations (in Test cricket). But we have ten Tests coming up together. Hopefully, after these ten Tests end, I'd be up to my expectations or more," Cricbuzz quoted Gill ahead of the first round of the Duleep Trophy, starting on September 5 (Thursday), where he will lead India A against India B in Bengaluru.
Gill started his Test career as an opener but has now shifted to No.3 since Cheteshwar Pujara’s ouster from the Test team. In 17 innings at No.3, the batter has managed 618 runs at an average of 41.2, which is more than his average as an opener (32.37).
Gill said playing a lot of white-ball cricket has disturbed his red-ball game. "I worked on my defence a little bit more especially against the spinners. Playing on turning tracks, you should be able to defend a lot more. Then you play scoring shots.
“With more T20 and playing on batting friendly tracks in the white ball, I feel it takes away a little from your defensive game over a period of time. So that was my focus during the England series.”
Talking about captaining a side in the Duleep Trophy, Gill said: "Every match or every series you tend to learn more about yourself, whether you're the captain or not. You tend to learn certain things about yourself, your game.
"More so if you're captain, you tend to learn about other players as well. Because it's important for the captain to have a connect with the players. If you want someone to give their 100 percent, you should have a connect with the players.
“You should know their weaknesses and strengths. In terms of that there has been some change, there has been a lot more conversations especially if you're the captain or vice-captain you have one-on-one conversations with the players.
"There's nothing easy or difficult. You'd have played a lot of age-group cricket with a lot of these player so there's a lot of fun. And if you're enjoying the captaincy role as well and to lead by performance as well. So if these things are in order, you'll be enjoying everything."
India are scheduled to play two Tests against Bangladesh, starting September 19. They will then be involved in a three-match home Test series against New Zealand before flying to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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