Indian opener Shubman Gill regained some form with the bat as the right-handed batter slammed a quickfire fifty against Nepal in India’s second group stage encounter of the Asia Cup 2023. Gill was severe with anything pitched up to him. Chasing a total of just 145 runs in 23 overs, both Gill and skipper Rohit Sharma stroked fifties with the bat as India completed a thumping win over their neighbours. With that win, the Men in Blue have qualified for the Super 4s of the competition.
It’s important for me to finish games with Rohit Bhaiya: Shubman Gill
Yeah, definitely, you know, quite disappointed with the way I got out the day before yesterday, but it was important for me to finish the game along with Rohit Bhaiya, and I think we did that. I mean, obviously, he [Rohit Sharma] is the kind of player who likes to take the bowlers on aerial. I’m the kind of who likes to hit more boundaries than aerial, so I think that combination works quite well for us,” Gill said at the post-match presentation.
Speaking on the challenge of facing new ball against Nepali pacers, Gill said, ‘I think they bowled very well with the new ball. They challenged us. They bowled really good areas with the new ball, and obviously, we knew once the ball gets wet with this outfield, it would get easier for the batsmen.”
Before this game, Gill struggled to get going on the two-paced surfaces he’s recently played on – his strike rate was just 71.95 in last four ODIs. However, Gill responded with the bat and somewhat silenced the suggestions of him being dropped with Ishan Kishan taking on the opening responsibility.
India’s next game is slated to be played on September 10 against the arch-rivals Pakistan. With keeper-batter KL Rahul soon joining the Indian squad in Sri Lanka, it will be interesting to see if KL gets a direct entry in the playing XI with Kishan being in good form and Shubman scoring a fifty in his last outing.
