"There Was A Bit Of Panic": Shubman Gill's Admission On India's Collapse On Day 1 of 3rd Test vs New Zealand

Shubman Gill believes that revisiting all the technical work that he did before the five-Test series against England earlier this year helped him find his bearings during an impressive knock of 90 on a rank turner that has put India in an advantageous position against New Zealand in the third and final Test here on Saturday. Gill and Rishabh Pant's attacking 60 gave India a 28-run lead after which New Zealand ended the second day at 171 for 9 in their second innings with a lead of 143. “Yes, definitely it's one of my better knocks that I've played in Test cricket. In lead up to this Test, it was all about me working on the areas that I've worked before the England series that we played,” Gill said at the post-match press conference.

“In that (England) series, I was batting at my best against spinners and just to be able to go back into that mindset and what my positions were while playing spinners, that is what I was trying to replicate before this match in practice.” “The conversation with the coach was just having more repetitions on what I think is the best idea for me to be able to play spinners,” he added.

Gill credited having a clear mindset while batting in pressure situation on a turning track at the start of day two worked well for him.

“I was honestly trying to have fun. I love batting, if I try to think of it as just going out there and having another opportunity to bat for the maximum amount that I can, that is what I was thinking,” he said.

“I was not trying to put too much pressure on myself (by) thinking I have to score these many runs. I was trying to have fun in the middle and enjoy that moment, even if it was difficult.” “Because you don't get to play that many Test matches. I just feel when I'm batting