Gill scored 754 runs at an average of 75.40 in 10 innings, including four centuries.
Shubman Gill was under immense pressure before the England tour, not only because he was set for a daunting maiden task as a Test captain, but because his own spot in the XI was not sealed. But as it turned out, he had a historic run with the willow, scoring 754 runs at an average of 75.40 in 10 innings, including four centuries.
According to a Times of India report, Ajit Agarkar, Gautam Gambhir, and a top BCCI administrator held a meeting with Gill one month before the tour to inform him about his ascension to Test captaincy. In reply, the batter began preparing for the rubber right before the IPL, understanding the need to score runs and set an example.
Shubman Gill asked Avinash Kumar, his childhood friend and a side-arm thrower with the Gujarat Titans (GT), to bring Duke balls, with an instruction to land the ball full on the stumps. He always had an issue with slow weight transfer on the front foot, which made him vulnerable to incoming deliveries because this technique created a gap between his bat and pad.
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Gill was shown ten years of data, which confirmed that 80% of runs in English conditions have come behind square. But his technique, where the bat faced towards the covers, didn’t allow him to score freely in those areas.
While understanding the need to change his technique, Shubman Gill was unsure whether he should make such a massive tweak before an important tour. When the confusion persisted, three phone calls with Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Sachin Tendulkar were arranged to clear his mind.
Smith discussed the mental side of the game while batting in England, and gave him an idea of the kind of lengths England pacers would bowl at him. He also advised Gill to shadow practice to create muscle memory before working on his technique.
Meanwhile, Williamson stressed playing close to the body, avoiding expansive drives, and giving the first 45 minutes to bowlers before the pitch flattens out. Gill was tense before talking to Sachin, who cracked a couple of jokes to calm him before pointing out the technical flaw that had been creating issues.
The legendary batter advised Shubman Gill to ensure the bat face is kept towards mid-off to avoid creating a big gap, and inside edges won’t crash the stumps but rather go towards square leg. Recognising flaws in his technique, the Indian captain began preparing accordingly in IPL nets, a preparation that paid off with a record-breaking England series, earning him the Player of the Series award.
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