Gill scored an unbeaten 119, propelling India to declare at 287 for four in their second innings, giving them an overall lead of 514 on the third day of the first Test at Chepauk in Chennai.
“Initially when I used to practice, especially against spinners, I used to step down trying to rotate. It’s the same here because it’s hard for bowlers to settle on a wicket like this where the odd one is turning but not all the balls are turning,” Gill told reporters in the post-day press meet.
This approach was evident when he stepped out to hit off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a six in the 64th over. A few overs earlier, he had similarly attacked Shakib Al-Hasan.
On that earlier occasion, Gill advanced to hit a flighted delivery from the left-arm spinner to the boundary for four runs.
Gill shared he has been training to use his feet against spinners from a young age, continuously refining his technique as he grew older.
“It’s something that I started practising when I was very young because I was always a tall guy. So, it was easier for me to use my feet and play along the ground. Playing in the air and hitting sixes actually came a bit later when I got a little bit more power in my body,” he explained.
“Definitely, scoring runs against any opposition gives you a lot of confidence and that’s what I have been working on. So, it (scoring against spinners) gives me a lot of satisfaction. I practiced a lot before the series,” Gill added.
Saturday’s century was Gill’s third in his last eight Test innings, with the previous two in matches against England at Visakhapatnam and Dharamsala earlier this year.
The 25-year-old admitted that the series against England, where he amassed nearly 500 runs, has boosted his confidence in Test cricket.
“I think the series that I had against England gave me a lot of confidence. I felt it was a long time coming for me, especially batting at that position (No. 3). And having got out the way I got out in the first innings (down the leg-side), I was obviously very disappointed.”
“But it further motivated me to be able to spend a lot of time on the crease and put extra value on my wicket. I think my best is yet to come,” he noted.
Gill’s focused and calculated efforts against the spinners highlight his growth and adaptability, promising more stellar performances in future matches.
Gill lauds Pant
Gill wasn’t alone in his efforts at Chepauk, as Rishabh Pant provided solid support from the other end, scoring a century of his own.
This marked Pant’s first Test match since his life-threatening car accident in 2022, and Gill expressed his happiness for his teammate’s remarkable comeback.
“I have spent a lot of time with him on and off the field and watching him score his first 50 and first 100 after his comeback gives me so much pleasure.
“I have seen him work so hard for it when he was coming back from the injury and I think he also must be feeling really good,” said Gill.
Fun moments are never in short supply when these two vibrant young players, Pant and Gill, are at the crease together.
Their celebrations followed a quirky routine – two taps of gloves followed by a tap of the bats. Gill explained the ritual with a burst of laughter.
“I was telling him not to (hit bat twice) because I’m playing with a bat that I played against England. My bat is quite old.
“He was hitting my bat so hard. I was telling him that I’m trying to save my bat,” Gill giggled.
