IND vs SL: "It Feels Good When The Team Captain Backs You"

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Shubman Gill will play instead of Ishan Kishan, who had achieved a double hundred in the last match, India skipper Rohit Sharma said prior to the opening ODI against Sri Lanka. The India opener’s finest performance came in ODIs, according to Rohit, who stated that he wished to provide Gill “a fair run” in that format.

In the first ODI in Guwahati, Gill—who is averaging over 60 in his brief ODI career—paid back the Indian think tank’s belief in him with a strong 70.

Rohit Sharma & Shubman Gill. Pic Credits: Twitter.

Shubman Gill Disappointed Not To Get A Big One For The Team

“It feels good when the team captain backs you,” Gill said in the post-match presser. “This was the conversation in the practice as well, that I will be playing. Rahul bhai (Dravid) also told me to just play my natural game… whatever I have been doing in the one-dayers, continue doing that.”

The opener, however, felt that he ought to have turned the start into a significant score. “I was definitely disappointed when I got out on 70 because I had done all the hard work to get going and get a big one for the team.”

Along with Rohit, Gill also contributed to an alliance of 143 for the first wicket, which helped India reach a mammoth total of 373 runs. The young hitter described the kinds of tactical discussions that Rohit in the middle was attempting to have with him.

“I have batted with Rohit bhai before in Australia, mainly in the Tests. It is nice to bat with him. The conversation generally when we were in the middle is, which bowler to target? What are they trying to do? Where are they trying to block our runs? And accordingly we make our plans.”

Continuously Checking Areas And Aspects Where We Can Improve On: Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill also mentioned that the batters are trying to figure out how to play less dot balls overall. He did, however, emphasise that the batter occasionally needs to be adaptable and play in accordance with the game scenario.

“We are continuously checking areas and aspects where we can improve on. We are working on that. No batsman likes to play dot balls.

But sometimes you have to see the game situation… if the game situation doesn’t demand you to play too many high-scoring shots (like when) two wickets have gone down, as a batsman you (need to) have that confidence that I’m playing the dot balls but can cover up the runs later. But yeah that is one area we are continuously trying to improve.”

When Sri Lanka reached 206 for 8 in the 38th over, it appeared like their innings would be over shortly. Dasun Shanaka, the captain of Sri Lanka, played a brilliant hand, though, and concluded with an undefeated 108 from just 88 balls. Shubman Gill emphasised that the presence of dew made the going more difficult for the fielders and bowlers.

“It is difficult, it is not easy to control a wet ball. Sometimes, the spinners can go out of the game but that didn’t happen in this match. Yuzi bowled well, Axar bhai also bowled well. It is a challenge to field as well, sometimes the ball skids off the wicket. And it is hard to catch the ball, as the ball is wet. It is like, you have butter on your hands. So it not easy to bowl when there is dew.”

Also Read: IND vs SL: “If Your Goal Is The World Cup, Make Sure He’s There For That Tournament”- Russell Arnold On Jasprit Bumrah