As India gears up to face Pakistan in a crucial Asia Cup match, opener Shubman Gill has provided insights into the team’s recent challenges against left-arm pacers, particularly Shaheen Shah Afridi. With the World Cup on the horizon and India’s top-order performance under scrutiny, Gill’s perspective sheds light on their preparations.
In their previous matches, India faced difficulties against left-arm pacers, raising concerns about their ability to tackle this specific bowling attack. Gill, however, downplayed these concerns, attributing them to the team’s infrequent encounters with such bowlers. He emphasized that familiarity with the attack plays a significant role in dealing with it effectively.
“At this level, you would have played left-arm seamers anyway. It does not make much difference. We don’t play against Pakistan often as we do against some other teams. We all know that their bowling attack is quite good, and when you don’t play against such attacks often, it makes a bit of difference in main tournaments,” Gill stated.
Gill, who faced challenges in his initial outing against Pakistan, has been focusing on improving his initial trigger movement and footwork in recent training sessions. However, he remains confident in his technique, suggesting that sometimes cricket involves receiving good deliveries and experiencing unfortunate dismissals even when batting well.
“Sometimes, there is no technical flaw as such, and bowlers also want to get you out, and you get some good deliveries and there will be some unfortunate dismissals when you are batting well. But I think you cannot change something in every match because you are not getting runs, and you have to trust your game and go ahead and get those quick runs,” Gill added.
For India to perform well against Pakistan, a strong start from their openers is crucial. Gill and Rohit Sharma, when opening together, boast an impressive average of 84.70 and have three century stands and four fifty-plus partnerships. Gill, known for his ability to keep the ball on the ground, emphasized the importance of openers setting the tone early in the match.
“The plan will be the same against them as it is against other teams also. Openers need to make a good start and need to dominate them from the beginning,” Gill explained.
As India contemplates its playing XI, the return of KL Rahul adds another dimension to the team’s lineup. While Rahul kept wickets during a recent training session, Ishan Kishan trained with the slip cordon on Saturday, indicating his potential role in the middle-order. Kishan’s form with the bat and versatility make him a valuable resource for India as they seek to address their batting concerns and strategize against Pakistan’s formidable attack.
With the World Cup aspirations at stake, India faces a critical challenge against Pakistan, where their ability to counter left-arm pacers will be put to the test. The outcome of this match may provide valuable insights into India’s preparedness for the upcoming tournament.
- Shubman Gill offers insights into India’s struggles against left-arm pacers, emphasizing the role of familiarity with the attack.
- Gill highlights the importance of openers providing a strong start, citing their impressive partnership record with Rohit Sharma.
- KL Rahul’s return and Ishan Kishan’s versatility add intriguing options to India’s playing XI.
- India faces a crucial match against Pakistan, with World Cup aspirations hanging in the balance.
