Shubman Gill's Defensive Batting Key to Test Cricket Resurgence

Shubman Gill attributes his Test cricket turnaround during the England series to improved defensive batting. The 24-year-old, with a Test average of 35.52, emphasized the importance of defense on turning tracks. Gill continues to hone his skills playing for India A in the Duleep Trophy.

Shubman Gill attributes his resurgence in Test cricket to refining his defensive batting skills, particularly during the England series earlier this year. The 24-year-old cricketer, who boasts an average of 35.52 across 25 Test matches, racked up 452 runs against England in a fruitful home series.

'I worked on my defense a little bit more, especially against the spinners,' Gill told ESPNCricinfo, as reported by the ICC. Currently, he is captaining India A in the Duleep Trophy, where he displayed a modest performance in their first innings, scoring 25 runs off 43 balls at a strike rate of 58.14, complete with three boundaries at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The young batsman stressed the importance of a strong defense on turning pitches, acknowledging that his primary focus during the five-match Test series against England was to improve his defensive strokes. 'If you're playing on a turning track, you need to defend more before playing scoring shots. Constant exposure to batting-friendly conditions in white-ball cricket can erode your defensive skills over time, and that was my focus during the England series,' Gill said.

Gill made his Test debut against Australia in 2020 and has since played 25 long-format matches, accumulating 1492 runs at a strike rate of 59.37. His standout performance includes a crucial century in Vizag during the second Test against England, finishing the series with an impressive average of 56.5.

India is set to play a two-match Test and three-game T20I series against Bangladesh at home from September 19 to October 12, followed by a three-match Test series against New Zealand from October 16 to November 5. These matches will be crucial in India's preparation for the Border Gavaskar Trophy later this year.

(With inputs from agencies.)