Ahead of the 2021 edition of Indian Premier League (IPL), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) opener Shubman Gill has termed the strike-rate as ‘overrated’, citing that a batsman’s biggest strength is adapting to different situations.
Gill, who has represented India in 7 Tests and 3 ODIs so far, had come under the scanner for his slow strike-rate during the IPL 2020 in UAE but it is something that doesn’t bother him.
See Also: Shubman Gill says his Test debut at MCG in Australia felt like going to a war
“I think strike-rate is kind of overrated,” Gill told PTI in an exclusive interview.
“It’s all about how you adapt to a certain situation. If the team demands you to play with a strike rate of 200 you should be able to do it. If the team demands you to play at a strike rate of 100, you should be able to do it. It’s just about adapting to the match situation,” he explained.
“There shouldn’t be a certain pattern to your game where you are only able to play one kind of game and not being able to adapt to different situations,” he continued.
Shubman Gill played a key role in India’s 2-1 Test series triumph Down Under earlier this year followed by a lean patch in the home series against England, scoring just one fifty from seven innings.
Coming to his white-ball exploits, the right-hander hasn’t featured in a game his ODI appearance against Australia in December last year.
“I don’t think it will affect anything because we have almost 10-12 days before our first match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (April 11) so there’s plenty of time for me to prepare,” he said.
During the IPL 2020, Gill opened the innings for KKR but he is ready to play any role this time around.
“I’ll be pretty comfortable and up for it whether the team requires me to bat in the middle-order or higher up. I’m up for anything,” he said.
Asked to pick his favourite format, Gill said, “Honestly, All the three formats have their own excitement and have their own experiences.”
“In Test matches there’s a different type of rush and excitement. In ODIs, there’s a different kind of rush and when you’re playing T20s, it’s different. All three are different but all three are really exciting.”
Gill made his much-awaited Test debut against Australia at MCG last year and left a lasting impression on everyone with his technique and strokeplay.
He played 6 innings during the Test series Down Under, amassing 259 runs at an impressive average of 51.80, including two half-centuries.
“It was not a great feeling when you see the best batting lineup in the world getting bundled out for less than 40 runs.
“Seeing our batsmen getting out for such low scores, I think, it kind of motivated me more to do well whenever I got a chance. I was really determined to do well.”
“Before the Adelaide Test only I knew that I’ll be playing the second match in Melbourne, because that’s when Virat bhai was leaving so Ravi Sir told me that I’ll be playing from second Test onwards,” he recalled.
Shubman slammed 91 in the second innings, a knock that set up their epic chase of 328 at the Gabba.
“I really wanted to get 100 on that day I thought I deserved it. But once I got to the 90s, I knew that I was getting a bit nervous. I thought I would ask for drinks to calm down my nerves but I got out in the same over,” he recalled being dismissed by Nathan Lyon.
“If I have to rate my innings it was nine out of 10. If I would have got a 100 obviously I would have been able to express myself more,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)
