'It's about adapting to different situations' - Shubman Gill opens up about strike rate debate

Shubman Gill, the former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) star, has decided to ignore the recent discussion over his strike rate, in order to concentrate on the forthcoming Indian Premier League season (IPL). Gill will perform for the Gujarat Titans in the 15th edition of the IPL. He was one of three players selected by the newly-formed team.

One of the factors why the batter, who hails from Punjab, was preferred by the team was because he has been one of the blazing stars of Indian cricket in the recent past. However, when contrasted to other batters, his IPL strike rate of 123 in the quickest version of the game is somewhat concerning. He has, however, counselled not to be distracted by the opinions of others, and to continue providing his utmost.

 Your mindset can’t be the same in every innings: Shubman Gill

“It differs from situation to situation, and when you go in to bat, there are different targets. Your mindset can’t be the same in every innings,” Gill, who will be representing Gujarat Titans this season, was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. “The wicket might be different. So you have to plan accordingly. As a player, that is the challenge, and you know that if you play with the same mindset and game plan, then it becomes very easy for the opposition to plan tactically.

“And it is all about experience when it comes to adapting to different situations. That is what helps you grow. This year, I’ll be working with Gary Kirsten, who is our mentor [and batting coach], and hopefully, I get to learn some new tricks to put up my sleeve.”

Other than fulfilling his responsibilities, Gill hopes to make certain that the Titans get off to a solid start and maintain it during the long season, which sees each team play 14 games to reach the playoffs of the tournament.

Meanwhile, the newly-formed Gujarat Titans picked up Hardik Pandya and Rashid Khan before the auction, and Matthew Wade, Jason Roy and David Miller as auction participants, in addition to Shubman Gill. Gill’s prowess to score in the powerplays earned him a significant reputation. However, his strike rate is concerning, and this might be one of the grounds why the Kolkata-based side released him.