Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Was trying to stay in the zone for as long as possible, says Shubman Gill after satisfying hundred

Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Was trying to stay in the zone for as long as possible, says Shubman Gill after satisfying hundred

Though India will not be playing red-ball cricket until June when it travels to England, the latest round of Ranji Trophy fixtures had gained importance because a number of India’s top-order batters were battling bad form going into the home ODIs against England and the Champions Trophy.

On Saturday, Shubman Gill banished those unpleasant memories of the recent past to an extent by notching up a part-sedate, part-effervescent century against Karnataka (102, 171b, 14×3, 3×6), albeit in a losing cause.

It was satisfying, he said, for it came on a M. Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch he likened to the one on which India was shot out for 46 against New Zealand and his own Punjab side for 55 in the first essay.

“The way I played… I think, in the first 130 balls, I scored 40-odd runs. They were bowling well and there was some help in the wicket. So, keeping that in mind, I was very satisfied. After lunch, as wickets were falling, I wanted to make sure I was getting some runs as well.”

Gill was particularly pleased with the way he concentrated long and hard, something he was unable to do during the recent disappointing Australian tour. The 25-year-old was at the wicket for 370 of the 382 balls the Punjab innings lasted, and as vice captain of the Indian ODI team, he would no doubt like to similarly lead by example.

“Sometimes, with the red ball, I tend to get a very good 25-30 and tend to put too much pressure on myself to convert those.” Gill said. “In those crucial moments, I sometimes lose my focus and concentration.”

“[But] in any innings at any level, it’s important to get runs and have that feel. When you are playing well, and are in that zone, it’s important to stay there for as long as possible. That’s what I was trying to do.”