"I Lose My Focus...": Shubman Gill's Honest Admission After Ranji Trophy Return Is Concerning

India batter Shubman Gill on Saturday conceded that he has, of late, developed a tendency to lose focus after getting 25-30 runs in red-ball cricket, evidence of which was seen in a couple of his dismissals during the five-match Test series in Australia. Gill identified this as an area of concern soon after making a fine second-innings hundred for Punjab on the third day of their Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka. His 102-run knock, though, went in vain as Karnataka hammered the visitors by an innings and 207 runs. "Red-ball batting is a concern. Sometimes, I think with the red ball, in the matches that I play, I get very good 25-30 runs.

"I think in those moments, sometimes I put too much pressure on myself to be able to score big runs. I think that is not the way that I have grown up playing my game," Gill said.

The elegant batter, who is a treat to watch when in full flow, added, "There is a certain zone that I am in, certain intent that I am in and sometimes I think I lose that because I put too much pressure on myself that I have to get a big run now that I am set.

"I think in those crucial moments, I sometimes lose my focus and concentration. I think it keeps you in the game all the time.

"As a person, I like to be involved in the game and what is happening. I think it brings out the best in me as a player when I am constantly involved in the game." On the Indian team's last tour of Australia, Gill made just 93 runs in six innings at an average of 18.60. He missed the series opener in Perth due to injury and was dropped for the Boxing Day Test at MCG.

This innings on Saturday will give him some confidence going forward.

"I think any innings that we play at any level, it's very important to be able to get runs,