Not facing Pakistani bowlers enough makes difference at big events: Shubman Gill
The Hindu
Shubman Gill admits facing Pakistan's pace trio is difficult due to unfamiliarity. He credits training with left-arm throw-down specialist Nuwan Seneviratne for helping him. Gill says Pakistan's Shaheen, Naseem and Haris present different challenges. He and Rohit Sharma have a good partnership, and Gill admires Pakistan captain Babar Azam.
Shubman Gill, who found Pakistan's pace trio too hot to handle during his painstaking 10 off 32 balls in the group league game, admitted that not facing the Shaheen Shah Afridis and Haris Raufs often, does make a "difference" during multi-nation events.
The Indian top-order batters have had issues with Afridi's nip-backers and the awkward angles that he often creates and it has got everything to do with unfamiliarity even you have watched thousands of his bowling videos.
"We don't play against Pakistan as often as we do against some other teams. We all know that their bowling attack is quite good and when you don’t play against such attacks often it makes a bit of difference in main tournaments," Gill was frank in his admission that life has indeed been a bit difficult against the troika of speed merchants.
India get to play Pakistan only during Asia Cup or at the ICC events.
Gill said that he was also banking on the left-arm throw-down specialist Nuwan Seneviratne to dish out an improved show against Afridi, and in general against Pakistan quicks.
"Definitely [training has helped]. He [Nuwan] has been travelling with us for the last 7-8 years. It is nice to have that variation. We have that right-arm specialist [Raghu], the side-arm specialist [Dayannd Garani] and the left-arm specialist. It does help in any conditions that you play," added Gill.
Gill then explained why the Pakistan fast bowlers are making such an impact.
Asian Games champion Avinash Sable opened his season in the 3000m steeple chase with a silver in the Portland Track Festival, a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze event, in Oregon on Saturday. He clocked 8:21.85s. Asian champion Parul Chaudhary took the bronze in the women’s 3000m steeple chase in a season-best 9:31.38s. Former Asian bronze medallist Sanjivani Jadhav struck gold in the women’s 10,000m in 32:22.77s, a time which was a second off her personal best, while Seema was sixth in 32:55.91s.