NEW DELHI: As
Ravichandran Ashwin
stepped onto the field for his 100th
Test match
,
Shubman Gill
, the promising top-order batter for India, shared insights into the veteran spinner's influence and reflected on the ongoing series against England.
In a conversation with JioCinema, Gill praised Ashwin's relentless pursuit of improvement, stating, "He is a terrific, terrific bowler and more importantly, he's someone who is always wanting to improve and add new skills in his game be it batting or bowling.
That's one thing I have learned from him that even though you have played for India for so many years, you still want to add something new to your game and make a difference to your skillsets. That's why he's one of the best spinners that the world has ever seen."
Reflecting on India's performance in the series, Gill expressed optimism about the team's resilience. "In all the four matches we've played, there were moments where things were either 50-50 or we might have been behind on some days," he remarked, highlighting the team's ability to bounce back.
Gill, who has been a standout performer in the series with impactful innings, discussed the learnings he gleaned from the matches.
"Honestly, I have loved this series so far, especially the breaks we have been getting... Something really strange happened in the last innings that I played. My heartbeat was normal when I went into bat and even when we lost wickets, I never felt the pressure," he shared.
Addressing his position in the batting order, Gill expressed confidence in his abilities regardless of the position.
"I don't think there was any doubt that I should go back to opening the innings because I was not scoring runs at No. 3... I was always focused on what I needed to do, not that I want to go back to opening or anything else,” he affirmed.
Gill also shed light on his camaraderie with fellow teammates, emphasizing the strong bond they share off the field.
"The relationship is great between us... We laugh a lot, we spend a lot of time together off the field, so it's great,” he said.
As he looks ahead, Gill remains focused on continuous improvement and is optimistic about the future.
"As far as individual targets, I am very far from that... the things I have been working on are coming off nicely. Hopefully, by the end of this year when we'll be in Australia it will be even more exciting times for us," he concluded.
Gill's reflections provide insights into the team's dynamics and his own growth, underscoring the resilience and determination of India's young cricketing talent.
(With inputs from IANS)
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