Shubman Gill scored three centuries and a double hundred in the five-match series, and the India captain said that each hundred had a different significance.
“The one in Leeds was my first match. I was under a bit of pressure, not being able to perform how I wanted to, especially in this format. So, that hundred will always be special for me,” he said.
After scoring a 147 in Leeds, Gill followed up with a 269 and 161 in Birmingham, and again hit a century in the fourth Test at the Old Trafford.
“To be able to seal that match was also special,” Gill said about the second Test, and added: “The one in Manchester, to be able to save that game from there, was also special. Each of them has a story and each of them means a lot to me, like all the moments that we have had. So it’s difficult to just pick one because there were 25 days of cricket.”
India’s indomitable spirit was on display during the five-Test series, and Gill said that Monday morning summarised what this team was all about. “The way Brook and Root were going, not many teams in the world would have given themselves a chance. But this team believes that whenever we have some kind of an opening, we can get through that…” he said.
“And that’s what we were talking about once Brook was out — and then we got an early wicket of [Jacob] Bethell — let’s try to build pressure on them.”
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Gill also revealed that once the breakthrough arrived, the team sensed a shift in momentum. “We did have the option of a second (new) ball. But I think the way Siraj and Prasidh were bowling, we didn’t feel like we needed a new ball. They can do the job for us even if it’s an 84-over-old ball.
“In such a situation, there is always more pressure on the batting team. Because it’s a one-ball game. So we thought that the longer we take the game, the more probability we will have to produce wicket-taking balls,” he said.
Mohammed Siraj claimed a five-for and Prasidh Krishna picked four as India came from behind to pull off a six-run win.
“There are moments like these, where you feel the journey is worth it. I want to be able to stay balanced, whether we have won the match, lost the match, whether I’ve done well, or I’ve not,” he said.
“It’s difficult, but it’s a process. That’s the real journey, to be able to stay balanced. I’m still learning, but so far, so good…”
