I have learnt that there is no end to picking up new skills from Ashwin: Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill, spoke exclusively to JioCinema on the eve of the fifth Test between India and England in Dharamsala. He provided insights into batting at No. 3, his relationship with the young members of the Indian squad and R Ashwin’s 100^th Test.

Excerpts:

On whether he ever felt, at any point during the series, that opening was a better option: 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. It’s not that I had not played at No. 3 or No. 4 before. Actually, playing for India ‘A’, I have three double centuries. One of them came batting at No. 3 and two at No. 4. So, I was used to playing at No. 3. Unfortunately, the runs didn’t come in the first few matches. But, I was always focussed on what I needed to do, not that I want to go back to opening or anything else.

On his heartrate being the same when he went out to bat and even after he reached the century: 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. Nothing fazed me. It was completely opposite when I batted in Vizag. So, both these innings taught me a lot in terms of how to handle things. It also taught me that ‘this is the way things can be’. I had not experienced something like this earlier.

On his superior batting record in the second, third and fourth innings: I have not seen the numbers, but whenever I go out to bat in the second innings, I feel I know what exactly to do. I know what target is there and I know how to pace my innings and how to go about things.

Also read: IND vs ENG: Shubman Gill reflects on the struggle of batting at number three in Tests

On his relationships with the younger players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan: The relationship is great between us. Dhruv and Yash played together in the U-19 and they are very close and the relationship between the four of us is fantastic. We laugh a lot, we spend a lot of time together off the field, so it’s great.

On how this rare five-match Test series changed him as a cricketer: Honestly, I have loved this series so far, especially the breaks we have been getting. I never felt tired or fatigued or exhausted during the series. Obviously, the breaks we got after every two matches have definitely helped us. Now, every time we come back, we feel fresh, we feel motivated to go.

On whether he met his individual targets in the series: As far as individual targets, I am very far from that. I don’t really set series-wise targets but 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.

On whether India can win the series 4-1: 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. But the way the team has come back has been the turning point, the way the youngsters, players who don’t have that much of experience have responded. I think that has been the turning point. Hopefully, even if we don’t play that well in a particular period in this match, we will be able to turn it around.

Also read: Ravichandran Ashwin is master of spin in any condition: Ricky Ponting

On R Ashwin’s 100^th Test: 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 are still wanting 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.