WTC 2021 Final: "Intent to score runs in England should never go on the back seat," says Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill is almost certain to open the innings in the WTC final against New Zealand.

Shubman Gill | Getty

Indian opener Shubman Gill feels that batsmen should always be on the lookout for runs that can put bowlers on the back foot and batsmen can put pressure on them this way in England.

Young opener Shubman Gill was named in the 15-member squad of Team India for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. With no Mayank Agarwal in the squad, the young opener is assured to open alongside Rohit Sharma in the much awaited clash. 

Shubman Gill impressed everyone with his elegant stroke-play at the top of the order in Australia and had a fine start to his Test career, scoring 259 runs in three Tests, including two half-centuries and then later started home series against England with a gritty half-century. 

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In Team India’s intra-squad match, Gill looked in great touch and scored a valiant 85-run knock which earned him the place in the Indian squad for the WTC final. 

In a video posted on his IPL franchise KKR’s website, Shubman Gill stated that the WTC final will be the biggest match of his life and highlighted the importance of playing with 'intent', saying that an aggressive approach does not allow the bowler to gain ascendancy.

“World Test Championship Final, it will be the biggest match of my life so far. I feel, your intent to score runs in England should never go on the back seat. 

“When you are looking to score runs, the bowlers get on the back foot and you can put some pressure on the bowler. If you are just looking to survive, you tend to get more good balls (bowled at you)," Shubman Gill said in a video posted on KKR’s website. 

Gill, however, has earlier toured England during his U-19 days. The swashbuckling opener averages 43.5 in List-A matches in England. He would be high on confidence after his knock in the intra-squad and will hope to carry that momentum into the WTC final.

(ANI inputs) 

 
 

By Ankitjit Singh - 17 Jun, 2021

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