Shubman Gill reveals how Yuvraj Singh made him practice to face short pitch deliveries

India’s tours of Australia 2020-21 was one for the ages. One of the best things about this tour was the fact that we got to see many young players rising up to the occasion. One of them was Shubman Gill. The Punjab based batsman who had been making a lot of noise in the domestic circuit has now finally started to make it big at the international level.

During the series, Gill made his Test debut and ended up playing three matches. In the six innings which he played, he scored 259 runs with an average of 51.8 with two fifties. His amazing stroke play during the series, especially in the last innings of the Gabba Test, had everyone sit down and take notice. 

During a recent interview, the young batter explained that some tough practise of playing the short balls with Yuvraj Singh right before the IPL had helped him face the Aussie attack better.

“The camp with Yuvi paaji before the IPL was very useful. During that camp, he prepared me to face chin music. He used to throw hundreds of short-pitch balls to me from different angles, and I think it helped me a lot,” Gill was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

A century could have been cherry on the cake: Shubman Gill

The right-handed batsman seemed more than prepared for all the Aussie bowlers. During his knock of 91 in the fourth innings of the Gabba Test, he took on the short pitch bowling tactics of Mitchell Starc and clubbed him for two memorable shots. He also revealed that he was nervous before making his debut for India. He also talked about the fact that his 91 run knock could have been more special had he got a hundred.

“I am relaxed now. Making my debut for India is a big relief. I was a bit nervous. 

“A century could have been cherry on the cake. I was well set and I should have scored the century, but at the same time, I am happy that I have contributed to the team’s victory. This series was a big learning curve for me and I have become a better cricketer,” Gill said.