‘Red-ball batting is a concern’ – Shubman Gill comes clean on recent struggles in Test format after Ranji Trophy ton vs Karnataka

India’s ODI vice-captain and young batting sensation Shubman Gill has voiced huge concern about his form in Test cricket. The 25-year-old scored 866 runs in 2024 from 12 Test match with three centuries and three fifties apiece with an average of 43. Gill, had a woeful tour of Australia scoring 93 runs from five innings with an average of 18.6

The right-handed batter made use of the short break to take part in the Ranji Trophy game for Punjab against Karnataka. After scoring just four runs in the first innings, Gill scored 102 off 171 balls with 14 fours and three huge sixes in the second essay. Punjab lost the game by an innings and 207 runs but Gill was finally back amongst the runs. 

Punjab’s skipper was quoted by PTI as saying, “Red-ball batting is a concern. Sometimes, I think with the red ball, in the matches that I play, I get very good 25-30 runs. I think in those moments, sometimes I put too much pressure on myself to be able to score big runs. I think that is not the way that I have grown up playing my game."

Shubman Gill reveals ‘he puts too much pressure on himself’ –

PTI further went onto quote Shubman Gill as saying, “There is a certain zone that I am in, certain intent that I am in and sometimes I think I lose that because I put too much pressure on myself that I have to get a big run now that I am set. I think in those crucial moments, I sometimes lose my focus and concentration. I think it keeps you in the game all the time.”

Gill also added, “As a person, I like to be involved in the game and what is happening. I think it brings out the best in me as a player when I am constantly involved in the game." Indian cricket team management will be happy with Gill’s return to form ahead of the ODI series against England and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. 

“I think any innings that we play at any level, it's very important to be able to get runs, get back in form and have that feel. When you are playing well, when you are in that zone, it's important to stay in that zone as long as possible and that's what I was trying to do when I was batting there,” further added Shubman Gill. 

Finally speaking about his knock on Saturday, the 25-year-old said, "I think this innings was very satisfying for me, the way I played. The first, I think, in 130 balls, I scored 40-odd runs, and they were bowling well and there was some help in the wicket as well. So, keeping that in mind, I think I was very satisfied with the way that I was playing. After the lunch, I just thought to play a little bit more of my shots. Also, the wickets were falling from one end. So, I wanted to make sure that I am getting some runs as well, playing some shots.”