‘Probably my best innings so far in the IPL’ – Shubman Gill reflects on his sensational century against MI in Qualifier 2

Gujarat Titans (GT) young opener Shubman Gill reflected on his sensational knock against Mumbai Indians (MI) in Qualifier 2 of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) which concluded on Friday, May 26, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The 23-year-old hit his third IPL hundred this season as GT beat MI by a margin of 62 runs to advance to their second final on the trot. The Hardik Pandya-led side will now face four-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the summit clash in Ahmedabad on May 28, Sunday.

Gill smashed a 60-ball 129, including seven fours and ten sixes before being dismissed by Akash Madhwal. The youngster ranked his third century as the best innings of his IPL career. With the knock, Gill overtook Faf du Plessis to become the leading run scorer od the tournament and top the IPL 2023 Orange Cap list with 851 runs in 16 innings.

“I think this was probably my best innings so far in the IPL,” Gill said in the post-match presentation. 

The Punjab-born cricketer further spoke about the technical changes he has made in his batting style. He said that from India’s last West Indies tour, he has shifted gears. He added that he sustained an injury before the previous edition of the IPL and made some technical changes ahead of the New Zealand series.

“From the last West Indies tour, I think I have shifted a gear, I got injured before the last IPL but I have been working on my game. I have worked on a few areas and made technical changes ahead of the NZ series after the T20 World Cup,” he said.

Once you step on the field it is all about trying how to contribute for the team: Gill

Gill then talked about how he handles expectations, stating that expectations follow you outside the ropes, and for him, it’s all about trying to contribute to the team once he gets on the pitch. He also said that he prefers to play bat to ball and over to over. Gill went on to say that his momentum improved when he hit three sixes in an over and then realised it could be his day.

“Expectations are something that follow you outside the ropes, but once you step on the field it is all about trying how to contribute for the team. For me, it is playing ball to ball, over to over. The over where I hit three sixes gave me the momentum to go big. That’s when I realised it could be my day,” he added.