India batter Shubman Gill attributed his remarkable hundred in Dharamsala against England to his father, Lakhwinder Gill, saying that his father had envisioned such moments for him, and would be proud of him after the belligerent century.
Gill’s father erupted in joy after his son scored a brilliant hundred on day 2 of the 5th Test against England in Dharamsala. As Gill celebrated his second hundred of the series, the spotlight shifted to his father, who applauded his son with a proud expression, and the video went viral on social media.
“This was my father’s vision, he would be proud of my performance today. The ball wasn’t doing much at [the start] and instinctively I wanted to put [Anderson] under pressure. I feel good every time I go out with the bat. I missed out on a big one but I’m feeling good,” Gill told the broadcasters after the end of play on Day 2.
Gill looked sharp and focused from the start when he came out to bat after Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed on day one in Dharamsala. The youngster reached his half-century in the 39th over, after only 64 deliveries. In the 59th over, he hit a slog sweep off Shoaib Bashir’s bowling to reach 100.
The young batsman highlighted the initial conditions of the match, noting that the ball wasn’t particularly challenging at the start, which prompted him to take an aggressive stance against England’s seasoned bowler, Anderson. Gill’s strategy was to apply pressure early on, a move that paid off as he went on to score a century.
“I think it would be better to keep that between us,” Gill said in his chat with Anderson after the six.
Despite feeling a tinge of regret for not converting the opportunity into an even bigger score, Gill remained positive about his form and approach to batting. His interaction with Anderson post his six, although kept private, hinted at a moment of mutual respect and sportsmanship between the two players.
Gill demonstrated his prodigious talent with a scintillating century of his own, his strokeplay a testament to his burgeoning prowess at the crease, as the duo stitched together an impressive partnership. The English bowlers worked tirelessly, hampered by a flat surface that provided little assistance. Despite their perseverance, the Indian batters remained steadfast, displaying their class and skill with a stunning array of strokes that enthralled the crowd and left the English camp reeling.
