India’s Shubman Gill on Friday (December 13) took a subtle dig at Australian captain Pat Cummins, who has threatened to attack the visiting batters with bouncers in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Gabba.
Addressing the media on the eve of the third Test, Cummins said while the 'bouncer barrage' tactic might not always be the primary approach, it remains a potent weapon in his arsenal.
"It worked out in the Adelaide Test. It's always in the back of your mind as a Plan B, or if it's looking really uncomfortable and likely to take wickets, maybe it becomes Plan A for some batters," Cummins told reporters.
Notably, Cummins troubled the Indian batters with his pace and bounce in the pink-ball Test at the Adelaide Oval, returning with seven scalps in the match, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings.
Mitchell Starc’s six-wicket haul in the first innings had already put the visitors under pressure. India’s two innings folded for 180 and 175 as the hosts bounced back to win the game by 10 wickets and level the five-match series at 1-1.
Despite Australia's success with the short-ball ploy, Gill remains unfazed as he dismissed Cummins's threat as well.
"Apart from one wicket, he's only had success with the short ball against tailenders. So, I don't know what short-ball plan he's talking about," Gill said while speaking to the media.
Shubman acknowledged that the Indian team is hurt by the loss in Adelaide but not carrying any baggage into the match and will look to start afresh in Brisbane, treating the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as a three-match series.
The No. 3 batter also emphasized the positive morale in the camp, sharing that the team enjoyed a lively dinner meeting on Thursday in Brisbane.
"The mood is very good in the camp. We had our team dinner only yesterday. We had a lot of fun during the dinner. Yes, the Adelaide Test did not go the way we wanted it to be. But, we are considering it as a three-match series. If we win this match, then in Melbourne and Sydney, we will have the upper hand," he remarked.
Shubman Gill said Indian players, including himself and Rishabh Pant, felt nostalgic after arriving at the iconic Gabba – the venue where India defeated Australia by three wickets to clinch the BGT in 2020-21.
Gill and Pant were the chief architect behind that triumph, producing knocks of 91 and 89 respectively to help India chase down 328 in the fourth innings.
"Definitely, very nostalgic when I came here. The whole team came and just while walking through the stadium, it felt very nostalgic. The wicket I think, we will get to know, once we play on it. I think it will be a good wicket to play on," he stated.
