Dynamite News Opening or floating, talented Gill 'happy' to bat anywhere
His two half-centuries this IPL season may have come in his favoured opening slot but Shubman Gill has defended Kolkata Knight Riders' debatable decision to use him as a floater.
Kolkata: His two half-centuries this IPL season may have come in his favoured opening slot but Shubman Gill has defended Kolkata Knight Riders' debatable decision to use him as a floater.
Opening the batting for only the third time this season, the talented 19-year-old smashed a career-best 76 to power KKR to 157 for one in 15 overs against Mumbai Indians Sunday. In the end, KKR notched 232 for two in 20 overs.
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The Punjab opener, who batted at No. 3 in his debut series for India in the New Zealand ODIs earlier this year, was tried out in various positions, including at No. 7, in a couple of matches.
"Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine have been doing well (as openers). Narine was giving good starts. So I was happy to happy to get a chance and capitalise on that," Gill said at the post-match news conference following his team's 34-run win.
"It's one of the best knocks in this IPL, especially considering the situation that we had lost six matches in a row. We do all kinds of practice in various match-conditions. It was all about preparing the mindset and executing on the field."
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Giving credit to India's domestic cricket, Gill said it prepares them to be confident even for a big lucrative league like the IPL.
"We play so many matches at different levels. You start to gain confidence by doing well. So when you're in a big league like IPL, you know you don't have to prove anyone. I've already proved myself there. It's all about continuing that."
Gill, billed as a future India star, has had a forgettable international stint with 16 runs from two ODIs.
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Asked whether his IPL success will hold him in good stead, Gill said: "I don't think so far ahead. It's about doing well and capitalise on whatever opportunities I get."
Gill smashed six fours and four sixes in a chanceless knock, putting on an opening stand of 96 runs with Chris Lynn (54).
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After Lynn's departure, KKR's biggest impact player Andre Russell was also finally seen higher up the order.
Gill played in such a manner that even Russell was happy to play the second fiddle.
"We had a good opening partnership maybe he was sent in to capitalise on that. I was set when Russell came in to bat. They were employing spinners after Lynn got out. So we decided that I take on the spinners.
"Then he will take chances after getting set. Setting up a good partnership was our priority at that stage," he said.
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Desperate to arrest their slide, KKR made wholesale changes and even sprang a surprise by going in with an extra batsman in Robin Uthappa.
"It was about going all aggressive as we had back-up options. The support was important. We had lost six matches in a row so it was about returning to winning ways and carry on that run till the final," Gill said, hoping that they would make the playoffs. (PTI)