Gill: Learnt to see off tough periods by watching Rahane bat

Shubhman Gill who got off India to a solid start with his 46 on the second day felt the time he spent with the Indian squad in the last few Test series helped him tackle the Australian pace attack at the MCG.

Stand-in skipper Rahane scored an unbeaten 104 in tough conditions to steer India to 277 for five against Australia on the second day of the second Test here.

Debutant opener Shubhman Gill who got off India to a solid start with his 46 on the second day felt the time he spent with the Indian squad in the last few Test series helped him tackle the Australian pace attack at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

“I have been travelling with the team for the last four or five Tests series and, it has helped a lot,” said Gill after the day’s play.

“I have been able to settle in team and to play bowlers like (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Mohammed) Shami bhai, Ishant (Sharma) or Umesh bhai (Yadav) in the nets is a huge confidence booster for a youngster. So when I went in to bat, it did not feel like I am in a whole new place,” he explained.

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Commenting on his innings, Gill felt that despite the good start, he was disappointed with his dismissal, after he got out chasing a wide delivery from Pat Cummins, four runs short of a half-century.

“When I came into bat, the ball was moving. There was something in the pitch and it was lively. But the only thing I told myself was that no matter what is happening on the pitch, I should be able to play my natural game and I should be able to play with intent.”

“But I am not satisfied with the way I got out. It was the last ball of Cummins’s spell and, I should have seen it off. It was a loose shot at that moment,” he added.

Skipper Ajinkya Rahane’s unbeaten ton on Sunday helped India take the initiative and, the 21-year-old debutant felt he learnt a lot from the skipper’s innings especially, on how to see off the tough phases.

“This knock was all about patience. More importantly when you are playing such a high-quality pace attack, sometimes you get into a shell, and then not able to score runs. The way Ajinkya bhai played, it was such a magnificent knock to watch from outside. How to see of those tough periods and he made sure he put those loose balls away,” Gill added.