Shubman Gill learned backfoot game with ‘1500 short balls every day’

Shubman Gill impressed with his technique against short-pitch bowling, and his father has said he honed those skills during practice, often only using a stump as a bat.
Just 21-years of age, Gill debuted in the second Test against Australia, scored an attractive half-century in the next match before an elegant 91 in Brisbane set up India’s chase in the final Test to secure a 2-1 series win.
In the aftermath of the series, Gill’s father spoke of how he let him face 1500 short balls every day in practice, and sometimes let the ball bounce off a charpoy, a traditional woven bed.
“Since he was nine, I made him play 1500 short balls every day,” Gill’s father Lakhwinder Singh told the Times of India newspaper.
“The ball tends to travel faster after skidding off the charpoy.
“Besides that, he practised with a single stump as his bat. That helped Shubman in finding the middle of the bat more often than not.”
Originally from a village in Punjap, Gill’s family moved some 300km to Mohali in search of better facilities.
Singh also mentioned how he made his son practice on canvas matting wickets, to prepare him better for short-pitched bowling.
“The extra bounce that matting provides forces you to get in … the correct position,” Singh said.
“Batsmen who have played on matting pitches develop the ability to play on the backfoot, which is so essential for any higher level of cricket.”
Gill’s come of age in Australia has seemingly solved India’s opening woes, as Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal struggled against the new ball of late.
Gill and fellow opener Rohit Sharma will next try England for size, with the first of four home Tests starting on February 5.
Latest
-
News
Jamie Overton falls just short of debut Test century as England take narrow lead
Newcomer Overton was caught behind for 97.
-
News
George Scrimshaw holds final-over nerves to guide Derbyshire past Lancashire
Scrimshaw successfully defended the 10 runs in the final over.
-
England
Jonny Bairstow and England looking to ‘take the game forward’
Bairstow hit a run-a-ball hundred for the second Test in succession as England fought back spectacularly against New Zealand.
-
England
Jonny Bairstow century leads thrilling England fightback at Headingley
The Yorkshireman made 130 not out and put on 209 with debutant Jamie Overton to rescue his side from 55 for six against New Zealand.
-
England
England top order left in tatters as New Zealand gain upper hand at Headingley
The hosts were 93 for six in reply to New Zealand’s 329 all out.
-
New Zealand
Daryl Mitchell breaks record with another century against England
Mitchell broke Martin Donnelly’s New Zealand tally of 492 runs in a series in England, set back in 1949.
-
England
Superb James Vince ton leads Hampshire to shock win over Somerset
Sussex’s five-match losing streak came to an end with a 17-run win over Surrey.
-
England
Adil Rashid to miss England’s India white-ball series to make Mecca pilgrimage
Rashid has found it difficult to make the pilgrimage due to timings and commitments.
-
England
Jack Leach pleased with good luck but admits freak dismissal no collector’s item
New Zealand closed the opening day of the final Test against England on 225 for five after Henry Nicholls was dismissed in bizarre fashion.
-
England
Stuart Broad stars on day one for England but error of judgement proves costly
Broad kept a week of celebrations going strong by striking before a run had been added and followed with the key scalp of Kane Williamson.