Gill made 754 runs in five Tests with four centuries and best score of 269.
Gill is already the vice-captain of the Indian ODI and T20I teams and has established himself as one of the top batters in both formats. But he came into his own in the England Tests, where he scored twin centuries (269 and 161) in the Birmingham Test.
Critics and experts have frequently voiced concerns about his temperament and technique in Test cricket, especially on overseas tours. However, after a brief conversation with cricket's best batters, Gill had an outstanding performance during a challenging England tour to silence his detractors.
In an interview with JioHotstar, Gill recently shared that he had a conversation with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar before heading to England for the Test series. He also added that he got Australian leading batter Steve Smith's number from Matthew Wade, and called him up for advice on how to go about his game in England.
Both the legends of the game gave Shubman Gill the same advice of defending the ball straight and trying to score runs square of the wicket.
“There was pressure of not doing well outside India. But I was feeling very confident in terms of my practice, mentally, and what positions I was getting into. I spoke to Sachin Sir and also took the phone number of Steve Smith from Matthew Wade. Both said the same thing: defend straight and score square,” revealed Shubman Gill on JioHotstar.
Tendulkar and Smith had their own way of batting and have an excellent record in Test cricket. However, Gill's statement indicates a basic batting rule that they both adhered to. To play in the "V" and cash out anything on square, both urged that Gill maintain a straight bat face.