The Indian opener Shubman Gill is keen on improving his test career and is counting on a strengthening defense against spinners to make an impact in upcoming test matches in India’s home season 2024.
With many developments around Duleep Trophy 2024, Shubman Gill’s progress holds an important position. As the captain of the India A team, he holds the position of an important member of the senior men’s test team having taken over the No.3 spot.
Despite having struggled in the last test series against England in February 2024, Shubman Gill battled some difficult moments that fetched him some centuries and fifties.
Gill had an average of 35 over 25 test matches which is well supported by his FC average touches of 50.
“Yes, I’ve not been up to my own expectations ([n Test cricket],” said Gill. “But we have ten Tests coming up together. Hopefully, after these ten Tests end, I’d be up to my expectations or more,” he added.
Having started as an opener in Test cricket, he earned the no.3 spot which called for a slightly different approach which has since been a work in progress.
Gill admits that the contrasting demands of white-ball cricket have played a part in the off-color returns in Test cricket but has been working on improving it.
“I worked on my defense a little bit more, especially against the spinners. Playing on turning tracks, you should be able to defend a lot more. Then you play scoring shots.”
“With more T20 and playing on batting-friendly tracks in the white ball, I feel it takes away a little from your defensive game over a period of time. So that was my focus during the England series,” he admits.
“Every match or every series you tend to learn more about yourself, whether you’re the captain or not. You tend to learn certain things about yourself, your game,” he said.
“More so if you’re captain, you tend to learn about other players as well. Because the captain needs to have a connection with the players. If you want someone to give their 100 percent, you should have a connection with the players.”
“You should know their weaknesses and strengths. In terms of that there has been some change, there has been a lot more conversations especially if you’re the captain or vice-captain you have one-on-one conversations with the players.
“There’s nothing easy or difficult. You’d have played a lot of age-group cricket with a lot of this player so there’s a lot of fun. And if you’re enjoying the captaincy role as well and to lead by performance as well. So if these things are in order, you’ll be enjoying everything,” he concluded.
Coming to the tests, India holds the top position in the WTC points table with Australia in the second. They will be playing in a five-match test series starting in November which is part of the WTC cycle and will the results have an impact on the rankings.
India’s home season 2024 starts with a two-match test series against Bangladesh on September 19 at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
