Shubman Gill's second Test century on Saturday, which was his first on home soil, was a determined knock because the young Indian opener "didn't want to miss the opportunity by playing a bad shot" on a batting track.
The pitch used for the fourth Test between India and Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has been the best of the four pitches used in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by a distance. And getting his chance in place of the out-of-form KL Rahul, Gill wanted to make the most of it. He went on to score a patient 128 off 235 balls.
"Honestly, I was thinking I don't know when next I will get a wicket like this. I didn't want to miss the opportunity by playing a bad shot. That's what going through my mind," Gill told his teammate Cheteshwar Pujara in an interview posted on BCCI.TV after the day three's proceedings.
"It feels great to be able to get a Test hundred in India. This is my first one, and to be able to get it in India which is my home ground in the IPL, is amazing."
Going through a dream run in 2023, the 23-year-old has struck centuries across formats. His maiden Test century had come in the Chittagong Test against Bangladesh in December 2022.
On day three, only the spinners were getting some purchase and Gill said his strategy was to see through them and "balance it out" by being aggressive against the pacers.
"I was blocking myself against the spinners, and I can't be doing the same against the fast bowlers as well. You have to balance it out and that was I trying to do.
"I was still trying to be positive, keep looking for the singles and go for a bad ball."
It was a hard toil for the Indians and especially Gill who after fielding for almost two days batted till the third session on day three.
As a result, he developed some cramps while batting.
"I was getting cramps, but that is a good thing because if you are getting cramps, you know you are doing well," Gill said.
The partnership of 113 runs between Gill and Pujara laid the foundation for India to cross Australia's first-innings total of 480.
(With agency inputs)
