This year, I believe, is going to be a breakthrough year for me in red-ball: Shubman Gill

In the world of cricket, Shubman Gill's journey has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Since his impactful debut in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21, the young opener has found himself in the limelight for his remarkable performances in white-ball cricket. However, the Test format has posed a different challenge for Gill, where he has yet to fully showcase his potential.

As the India vs England Test series kicks off on January 25th, Shubman Gill is gearing up for what he believes will be a transformative year in Test cricket. In a candid conversation, Gill expressed his confidence and said that he liked to bat at number three.

“I like batting at three. I hope I’d be there for a long time. We are used to playing in these wickets and these conditions. It’s about trusting your defense and then to be able to pounce on the opportunity that you get to score runs," Gill said on Jio Cinema.

The shift in his batting position from opener to Cheteshwar Pujara's number three spot has been a topic of discussion. Gill shed light on this adjustment, stating, “Generally when you are opening, you are more used to going straight away. It’s all about how calm you can be and how much assessment you can do while you are out there, and I got that quite a few times to do.”

Gill views the upcoming Test series as a pivotal moment in his Test career. Last year marked a white-ball breakthrough, and he's optimistic about a red-ball breakthrough this year.

"Last year was a breakthrough year for me in white-ball. This year, I believe, is going to be a breakthrough year for me in red-ball," he asserted with optimism.

His eagerness for a more extended time at the crease reflects his dedication to the team's success, emphasising a team-first mentality based on his experience in the West Indies Test match.

“In the first Test match (in West Indies), both Yashasvi and Rohit bhai both scored a century. I sat there for about 50-60 overs. If I sit out for 50-60 overs today, I would be happy.” he remarked, emphasising the team-first mentality.

As Shubman Gill embarks on this new chapter in Test cricket, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await to witness if 2024 will indeed be the year where he solidifies his position as a reliable Test batter for the Indian team.