"Not giving maidens, keep picking singles" - Gill on his partnership with Jurel

Shubman Gill and Dhruv Jurel put on a match-winning 72-run stand in the last innings of the fourth Test in Ranchi to propel India to an impressive five-wicket victory on Monday (February 26). Thanks to this win, India have now taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series, also handing Ben Stokes his first series defeat as captain.

Chasing a target of 192 on a tough surface, India were reduced to 120/5 but that’s when the two young batters stepped up and got them over the line. Gill remained unbeaten on 52 off 124, while Jurel followed up on his first-innings brilliance with another superb knock. After scoring 90 in the first innings, the wicketkeeper-batter crafted 39* off 77 and took some pressure off Gill by constantly rotating strike. 

“We were put under pressure by England, 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),” said Gill.

“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.”

Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal put on 84 runs for the first wicket but India lost five wickets in the space of 36 runs, including the wickets of Ravindra Jadeja and Sarfaraz Khan off consecutive deliveries. Gill, however, remained unfazed and tackled England spinners with a lot of patience. 

The right-hander smashed Shoaib Bashir, who got him out in the first innings, for two sixes in an over to bring up his fifty. “The first innings, the ball was not turning much and hence I didn't use my feet, but second innings I decided to take the LBW out of the equation by using my feet.”

Talking about the series win, especially in the absence of some of the senior players, Gill said: “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.”

Jurel was rightly named player of the match. The 23-year-old said he wanted to bring the first-innings deficit to as low as possible, and then broke the match-winning partnership with Gill into "10-run sets". 

"I play according to the demands of the situation. The first innings, we needed to get runs as well, we knew we had to bat last and so any runs would be vital. I was involved in some partnerships, so credit does go to all those who stayed and added runs," said Jurel.

"I just saw the ball and then reacted to it, not thinking too far ahead. The conversation was good (with Shubman Gill in the second innings). We just broke it into 10-run sets and started developing the partnership."