Shubman Gill's international season, which began with high expectations, gradually unravelled, especially in the Test series in Australia, where his struggles outside the subcontinent were laid bare. After a first-innings duck against Bangladesh in Chennai, he redeemed himself with an unbeaten 119 in the second innings in September. However, in the next six Tests, he only managed one more score over 40. In Australia, his scores were 31 and 28 in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide, 1 in Brisbane, and 20 and 13 in Sydney.

Despite these challenges, Gill was one of the few specialist Test batters to shine in the penultimate round of Ranji Trophy league matches. His second-innings 102 for Punjab against Karnataka at M Chinnaswamy Stadium stood out as a classic Gill knock – cautious initially, and then aggressive as he found his rhythm against a formidable attack led by Prasidh Krishna.

Meanwhile, his Test colleagues struggled. Rohit Sharma managed scores of 3 and 28, while Yashasvi Jaiswal contributed just 4 and 26 as Mumbai suffered a surprise five-wicket loss to Jammu & Kashmir. Rishabh Pant made only 1 and 17 in Delhi's heavy defeat to Saurashtra, and Devdutt Padikkal scored 27 in Karnataka's big total of 475. Gill, on the other hand, enhanced his reputation. In the first innings, he was dismissed by left-arm pacer Abhilash Shetty’s seam movement. However, after his team conceded a hefty 420-run deficit, Gill flourished in the second innings, playing close to his body and striking the ball crisply.

Unlike Rohit and Pant, who played under Ajinkya Rahane and Ayush Badoni respectively, Gill took on a leadership role, stating that staying involved in the game helped him perform at his best. “As a person, I like to be involved in the game. It brings out the best in me as a player when I’m constantly engaged,” he said.

Gill has now been appointed as Rohit Sharma’s deputy for the ODI series against England and the Champions Trophy in Dubai next month, a role he is clearly excited about. “It’s definitely very exciting,” he smiles. “It’s a big responsibility; coming into this role, it’s not just about performing as a batsman, but also having an all-round mindset towards the game.”

Gill's ton shows the significance of domestic cricket

Having already led India in T20Is (against Zimbabwe in July) and served as vice-captain on the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in July-August, Shubman Gill is being prepared for more significant leadership roles. Reflecting on the importance of domestic cricket, he spoke like a leader, emphasizing the need to balance it with time away from competitive action to focus on areas that require attention.

“Whenever possible, we should play domestic cricket, but it’s essential to ensure there is enough of a gap between matches and the next series you are going to play,” he said. “A gap of 15-20 days is helpful because playing a match feels different from practice. At any level, matches challenge various aspects of your game.”

Even when not playing, players don’t fully disconnect from the game. They may take a short break to refresh mentally, but then return to focus on areas that need improvement. “When I say rest, it’s not just about resting,” Gill explained. “Sometimes, you need to work on certain aspects of your game. Playing continuously makes it difficult to focus on those areas.”

Gill elaborated that during these breaks, players work on building muscle and refining specific skills, both physically and mentally. “If you keep playing, you won’t be able to address the areas you want to work on. It’s crucial for growth as a player.”

Looking ahead, Gill will have the chance to put his Test disappointments behind him and return to international white-ball cricket. With an impressive average of 58.20 from 47 ODIs at a strike rate of 101.74, if he continues this form, India will be in a strong position for the Champions Trophy. His recent 102 will only add to the growing belief in his potential.

Read Also: Shubman Gill Opens Up About Red-Ball Batting Concerns: 'I Often Settle for 25-30 Runs'

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