Shubman Gill's England Tour began during IPL: Training with Dukes in Ahmedabad

India Today

16 hours ago

India captain Shubman Gill scored a statement double century in the ongoing second Test match against England. Batting first in Birmingham, Shubman guided India to a massive total of 587 runs with his terrific 269-run knock. Speaking after the game, Shubman revealed that he had been training for the England Test series since the Indian Premier League.Gill has had a sensational start to his tour of England, hitting a century in Leeds and then following it up with a double century in Birmingham. He said that he worked on his technique at the end of the IPL 2025, but had started training with the red ball much earlier than that.advertisementTo prepare for the Test series, Shubman batted in the Ahmedabad nets against the Dukes ball, which is used in England for Test matches. The new India No. 4 revealed that it was difficult for him to shift between T20 and Test cricket and that he had to work on his mindset before coming into this tour.
"It's easy to go from T20 to T20, but coming back from T20 to Tests is a bit difficult because you have been practising one way with your team and your instincts are tuned to that," Shubman Gill told the broadcaster on Day Two of the second Test match."Controlling that and repeatedly telling your mind and body to adapt is challenging. That's why I started training for Tests during the IPL itself. That's when I began preparing my mind and body," he added."I was batting nicely but getting out after scoring 30 or 40 runs. So I wanted to enjoy my batting. I was focusing too hard, so I decided to make the most of it. I started working from the IPL itself," Gill revealed.Gill Learning on the JobShubman might have hit 30 boundaries and 3 sixes in the first innings at Edgbaston, but he revealed that runs were not coming easily at the start of his innings. Gill said he had to constantly remind himself to be patient and stay at the wicket."In the last match, I was scoring more fluently, but here it wasn't coming as easily. Still, my mindset was that if the wicket is good and I am set, no matter how long I bat, I shouldn't leave the match halfway," Shubman said.He added that he did not want to repeat his mistakes from the first Test match, where the Indian tail collapsed in both innings, forcing India to be bundled out for far fewer runs than they should have scored."In the last match, I learnt that no matter how long you've been batting, under these conditions, there can be a collapse in the lower order at any time. So I tried to stay out there as long as I could. I wanted the bowler to get me out with a good ball, and I shouldn't make mistakes. That was my approach," Gill stated.Gill's 269 helped India post a massive first-innings total. The visiting side declared late on Day Two and managed to pick up three crucial wickets. The side will start Day Three with a lead of 510 runs and hope to take a dominant first-innings lead at Edgbaston.- EndsTune InMust Watch