India vice captain Shubman Gill on Pakistan Champions Trophy tie with Pakistan
22/02/2025
ICC25
22/02/2025
ICC25
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00:00We have with us Shubman Gill, our vice-captain.
00:09Shubman, you've been in terrific form in ODIs, but after getting the vice-captaincy, I think it's only improved your batting.
00:19So responsibility has got the best out of you?
00:22Sir, I don't think vice-captaincy has changed anything. When I'm batting out there, I want to still play as a batsman
00:30because I feel that's what brings the best out of me. So whenever I'm batting out there, I'm just playing however I would play, irrespective of if I'm the vice-captain or not.
00:51And how do you go into this?
00:53It doesn't change anything for us, honestly. We play every match to win the match, and this is no different for us.
01:01And this is how we prepare for any match that we play. So that's how we're going to prepare for this one as well.
01:10Shubman, you batted the most here last day. Tell us a little bit about this wicket.
01:16Is it so that as you're moving forward in the innings, you're gripping the ball a little and it's making it difficult for you to bat?
01:26Yes, sir. In the last match, the dew didn't come that much. So definitely, when dew doesn't come from under the lights, it's not that easy to bat on slow wickets.
01:37It's not that easy to rotate the strike. I think whatever matches we play here, the key will be that whichever team rotates well in the overs from 11 to 40,
01:50that team has a better chance of winning.
01:53Shubman, Rohit has been saying all along that they want to continue the brand of cricket that India had played during the World Cup.
02:00The high-risk, high-gain kind of cricket. But looking at this wicket, do you see...
02:04First of all, was it surprising to see this kind of... because we have played a lot of cricket over here, this wicket looks a bit slow.
02:11And also, on this kind of pitch, what is the ideal approach as a batting unit for you guys?
02:18Sir, the ideal approach on any wicket is first to assess the conditions and see how the wicket is playing.
02:26And generally, when you play, we were lucky that we went to field first, so we got a bit of an idea how the wicket is playing.
02:33And as a batsman, your skill is renowned by knowing how well you can assess any situation or condition that you are playing in.
02:43And that's what we try to do as batsmen.
02:45Definitely, we want to play aggressive and positive cricket.
02:49But that also depends on... the score would be different on every wicket that we play.
02:54So, 300 on this wicket or 280 on this wicket would be a very good score for us.
02:59Or if the wicket plays any differently, we might get 350 or 360 runs.
03:04So, we don't have any particular target set in our mind.
03:08We usually go out there, see how the wicket is and then try to get 15-20 runs more than what the par score we think that is on that wicket.
03:17Hi Shubhman, I think you've got 8 one-day 100s, one of which is a double century.
03:22But looking at that last innings, given the magnitude of it being India's first Champions Trophy match, it's a condensed format.
03:29There are 3 matches. The conditions, you already mentioned.
03:32How much personal satisfaction did that innings give you?
03:35It was a different situation. You had to recalibrate.
03:38Not a big target, but a tricky situation. Wickets kept falling.
03:42How much pleasure did that give you as compared to the other 700s, including a double?
03:46Definitely, one of my most satisfying innings that I've played.
03:50As you said, Champions Trophy format is like that.
03:53Margin of error is generally very less.
03:56If one or two matches go up or down, there's a lot of pressure.
03:59All the matches are do-or-die, must-win games.
04:03There was a period of 8-10 overs where there was a bit of pressure on us as a batting group.
04:10But I think in that phase, it's very important that you lose as few wickets as possible and don't take too many risks.
04:18Because the target wasn't that big for us.
04:20If we were chasing 270-280, I think we would have played a bit differently.
04:24Even if the wickets had fallen, we would have had to take a few chances.
04:27But because the target wasn't that big on that wicket,
04:29in those 8-10 overs, we tried to rotate the strike as much as possible and take less risks.
04:36In such situations, when a 40-50 run partnership happens,
04:41there's a lot of pressure on the bowling team as they have to take wickets.
04:44They try and there are boundaries.
04:46So that was our plan.
04:48You made a century against Bangladesh.
04:51Do you feel like scoring a century against Pakistan as well?
04:54Because you couldn't score much in the T20 World Cup.
04:57Even in the T20 World Cup in 2023, you couldn't score much against Pakistan.
05:02Sir, we feel like scoring a century in every match.
05:05So definitely, if we get a good start in this match, we'll try to play long.
05:10If any batsman is set, we'll try to play long.
05:14Shubman, you and Rohit have had several good partnerships at the top of the innings.
05:19It's almost like watching two different matches at the same time,
05:22with him on one side and you on the other side.
05:24What is it that makes you guys stick the way you have?
05:27And what kind of an impact does it have when you see him bat the way he does?
05:32I think the way we play the game in the power play is quite different to each other.
05:38Rohit bhai likes to play more aerial shots and try to hit those big sixes.
05:45And I like to play along the ground. I like to pierce those gaps.
05:48And in between, if I see the bowler is under pressure, then I take my chances and go over the circle.
05:55And I think that's the hallmark of us as a pair.
05:59Because we score boundaries with different shots.
06:03And the bowlers really have to think which areas to target for us
06:09because the areas that we play the shots are different to each other.
06:15The format of the Champions Trophy is different.
06:18For you guys, if you win, the door to the semi-finals opens.
06:23And for them, if you lose, it's a do-or-die match.
06:27What's the difference? Or is it that you play better under pressure?
06:32Yes, absolutely. The team that handles pressure well,
06:36the chances of winning are higher for the team.
06:40In the 50-over format, sometimes we feel that we have to take on the game.
06:48But when a batsman goes out, he realizes that he had a lot of time.
06:53In the 50-over format, you don't get to play as many matches as you do in the T20 and Test matches.
07:02So I think it's important that whatever decision you make,
07:07you make it with a very balanced mind.
07:10And you have to look at the scoreboard if you're trying to take any extra risk.
07:15But generally, as a batsman, our instinct is to follow a tempo and keep playing at that tempo.
07:24Shuman, thank you very much.
07:27Tomorrow is going to be a big day for Pakistan.
07:31What are the tasks that can play an important role in tomorrow's match?
07:35And how big of a target do you think will be safe?
07:39I honestly don't think Toss will play such a big role.
07:43Because we've seen that Deu hasn't come that much.
07:46If Deu comes, then Toss is very important in a 50-over match.
07:51Because if Deu doesn't come, then I think it won't make that much of a difference.
07:57But whichever team has a big match, if Deu doesn't come,
08:03then the team that is batting later will have a little more pressure on them.
08:09So whichever team handles the pressure better will have a better chance of winning.
08:14Shuman, after the Australia tour, did you sit down and think where did you go wrong?
08:20You were in good form going into the tour, and after that, you bounced back.
08:24So what effort did you put in, and what was your mindset?
08:29And which areas did you work on going forward?
08:35Sir, as such, I don't think there was any flaw in the batting in Australia.
08:41Because of that, we didn't get a run.
08:44But definitely, sometimes there is a mental aspect.
08:48We focus a lot on batting.
08:51And we think that if we don't get a run, then there will be a flaw in batting.
08:54But it's not necessary that there is always a flaw in batting.
08:57It's possible that there is a flaw in something else.
09:00So I didn't do anything special on anything.
09:05But I knew that white ball is one day, and then T20.
09:10So it's a long time.
09:11So the normal practice that I do when I go home, that's what I'm doing.
09:15Shuman, there is a very good record of Pakistani pacers on this wicket.
09:19So is there a particular bowler that you will see through?
09:24Sir, there is no particular bowler.
09:26But there is a day for every bowler.
09:28Like there is a day for every batsman.
09:30So on that day, the one who is bowling well,
09:33the one we should play with a little less risk,
09:36I think we will assess that on the match.
09:40Shuman, over here.
09:43You mentioned Rohit earlier, and the fast starts he's been getting
09:48for the last couple of years.
09:49When he's batting aggressively like that,
09:51what's the effect that it has on you?
09:53Obviously, the oppositions and bowlers, you're in a battle together.
09:57How does that affect the way that you approach the game
10:00when he gets those fast starts?
10:02Nothing at all, actually.
10:03It doesn't affect me at all.
10:04I think Rohit Bhai has got his own style.
10:06And if at all it helps me to get in my own groove
10:09and how I like to go about things.
10:11And yeah, it's a delight to watch him from the non-striker end.
10:15We have had some really good partnerships over the past couple of years
10:18and it's a delight to bat with him all the time.
10:21Shuman, it was a big ICC event.
10:24Before this, Jaspreet Bumrah's injury and being out of the squad,
10:29how much has it affected you?
10:31And how important do you think he was for this event?
10:36Yes, sir.
10:37Any player who has been a part of the team for so long
10:40and is doing so well for the team,
10:42there is a bit of a setback that he is not a part of the team.
10:48Definitely, as a team, we were disappointed.
10:51But you have to choose your best options.
10:55And I think, apart from that,
10:57whatever options we had available, we did our best.
11:00And Harshit came in his place and he is doing really well.
11:04Shuman, good luck for tomorrow.
11:05Shuman, we didn't spot Rishabh Pant in the team huddle today,
11:09so just wanted to check if everything is alright with him.
11:11And secondly, you had mentioned when you took over as Gujarat Titans captain
11:14that your captaincy mostly happens more off the field when you talk to players.
11:18Now that you are part of the leadership group,
11:20what are the kind of conversations, if any,
11:22you are having with players who are not part of the 11 plans right now?
11:26Firstly, Rishabh is down with viral.
11:28That's why he didn't come for practice.
11:30And secondly, the conversations that I have with players off the field
11:36it's important, you know, players who are not playing
11:40to be able to keep them in a good mindset
11:43and always keep them ready for whenever they get the chance.
11:45And those are the kind of conversations that I have with them
11:49whenever I get the chance or if I see if someone is
11:52you know, feeling a little low or lacking in something.
11:56So I talk to them and have those conversations.
12:01Shuman, Team India has been playing really well for quite some time now.
12:04You have also defeated England at home.
12:06A lot of cricket experts think that the Pakistan team
12:08is a little weak compared to India
12:10and they over-hype the India-Pakistan match.
12:12Do you think this is over-hype?
12:16Sir, over-hype, under-hype, I don't believe anything like that.
12:21India-Pakistan has a long history.
12:24So it's an exciting contest for everyone
12:28whenever both the teams play.
12:30Everyone enjoys watching it.
12:32If so many people are happy to watch the match
12:35then it's under-hype or over-hype.
12:39Who are we to say that?
12:42We go there to play cricket.
12:45We try our best to play for whichever team we play for.
12:48We represent our country and try to win with all our heart.
12:53Hi Shuman, this is Satish from Gulf News.
12:55It's a follow-up question to the earlier leadership role.
12:59Since you took over as a vice-captain
13:02your performance on the field has grown better.
13:05What's the secret? How do you enjoy it?
13:10Whenever I'm on the field
13:12it's more so whenever we're out there fielding
13:15having that talk with the bowlers
13:17to make sure that they're thinking the right way.
13:20Bowling in that heat is not easy for them
13:25especially the fast bowlers.
13:27Rohit Bhai has given me the responsibility
13:30whenever I'm there at mid-off or covers
13:32to just have a word with them
13:33see what they're thinking and if they're thinking right.
13:35We as a team always have certain game plans
13:37that we try to follow throughout the match.
13:39And I just make sure that they're following those game plans.
13:45Sir, batting performance...
13:47I don't really think about that responsibility
13:50when I'm going out there as a batsman
13:52whenever I'm playing there
13:54I just want to play as a batsman
13:55and do the best for my team.
14:01Tomorrow is the biggest match of this Champions Trophy
14:04and against Pakistan is always a big event
14:07India-Pakistan match
14:08and you know the history of Pakistan
14:10Pakistan can make surprise every time
14:13they have lost three matches against New Zealand in a series
14:16and tomorrow against India
14:18how do you rate tomorrow's match
14:20Pakistan can make a surprise
14:22how will you deal with the pitch
14:24in second session we have seen against Bangladesh
14:26the pitch was slower in the second session
14:28so how are you going to rate it?
14:30Firstly, sir, I think it is a big match
14:32but I think the biggest match would obviously be
14:34the finals that the team plays
14:38and definitely
14:40we have been playing some good ODI cricket
14:43and Pakistan unfortunately I think
14:45have lost some of the matches that they have played recently
14:47but by no means I think we are going to take them
14:50as a lesser side
14:52I think they have got a good side
14:54and it is important for us to bring our A game tomorrow