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'Too Much Pressure,': Shubman Gill’s Honest Take On His Red-Ball Performance Issues

Rajgeeta

Shubman Gill opens up on his his red-ball performances [Sources: @AhmedGT_/X.com]Shubman Gill opens up on his his red-ball performances [Sources: @AhmedGT_/X.com]

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India young batting sensation Shubman Gill recently opened up about his struggles with the red-ball format, admitting that it’s an area he needs to work on. Gill’s comments came after he scored a well-fought century for Punjab in their Ranji Trophy clash against Karnataka. His innings of 102 included 14 boundaries and three sixes.

Gill’s return to the Ranji Trophy was much anticipated, especially as he was handed the captaincy of the Punjab team in the Round 6 match against Karnataka at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Despite his individual brilliance, Punjab fell short, getting bowled out for just 213 in their second innings and losing the match by a staggering innings and 207 runs.

This century was a bright spot for Gill after his underwhelming performance in the recent Test series against Australia, where he managed only 93 runs in five innings, averaging a modest 18.60. Reflecting on his struggles, Gill admitted, “Red-ball batting is a concern.”

In an interview with PTI, Gill delved into what he believes is holding him back in the longer format of the game. 

"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," Gill said.

"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 big runs 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,” he added.

Shubman Gill Fails To Perform In BGT 

The Australia Test series was a tough outing for the Punjab batter. In the five-match series, he played three games but failed to leave a significant impact. His highest score was 31, and his inconsistency eventually led to him being dropped for the fourth Test in Melbourne.

However, this dip in form hasn’t shaken his long-term prospects. Gill has been named vice-captain for the upcoming Champions Trophy in 2025.

While Gill’s century stood out, Karnataka dominated the match with a complete team performance. Fresh off their Vijay Hazare Trophy win, they capitalised on Punjab’s weak spots, clinching a massive victory. Smaran stole the show with a brilliant knock of 203 off 277 balls, earning him the Player of the Match award.