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Shubman Gill opens up on opening battle with Prithvi Shaw ahead of Wellington Test

Dixit Bhargav
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Shubman Gill opens up on opening battle with Prithvi Shaw ahead of Wellington Test

Shubman Gill opens up on opening battle with Prithvi Shaw: One out of the two batsmen will get to open the batting in Wellington.

India batsman Shubman Gill had identified New Zealand fast bowler Neil Wagner as someone who takes a lot of wickets with the short ball.

Gill referred to New Zealand’s recent tour of Australia where Wagner was the highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers with 17 wickets at an average of 22.76, an economy rate of 2.45 and a strike rate of 55.5.

“I think their bowling attack has been taking a lot of wickets with the short ball, especially [Neil] Wagner. If you see the last series they played against Australia, when nothing was happening in the wicket, they were really relying on the short ball.

“I think as a team, as a batsman, if we could take that out of the picture and not give wickets to the short ball, it will be really helpful for us,” Gill was quoted as saying during a press conference in Wellington.

It is worth mentioning that Wagner had frequently dismissed the likes of David Warner and Steve Smith during the series to allure accolades with respect to his consistency and endurance.

Shubman Gill opens up on opening battle with Prithvi Shaw

There is no hiding to the fact that in Rohit Sharma’s absence, one out of Gill or Prithvi Shaw will be selected to open the batting alongside Mayank Agarwal in the first Test. Aware about the same, Gill sounded unperturbed without what decision the team management will take.

“Obviously, our careers started at the same time but there is no fight [for the spot] as such. Both of us have done well in our positions. It’s up to the team management, who they will play. Whoever gets the chance will try to make the most of the opportunity and not let it go waste,” Gill said.

Gill, who is coming on the back of scores of 83, 204* and 136 during the shadow tour in New Zealand, further laid emphasis on fitness over controlling the mind in Test matches.

“I don’t know about control over the mind but if you are fitter, you are confident that I can play a longer innings, I won’t be that tired. If I am playing in a test match, I can back myself to play 300 balls, 350 balls and after that, when you go out to field, I won’t be that tired. My legs won’t be that tired,” Gill added.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Dixit Bhargav

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Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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