After India pulled off a stunning six-run victory in the final Test at The Oval, captain Shubman Gill opened up about the mindset shift that helped his team bounce back from 1-2 down to level the series 2-2.
Ahead of the high-pressure fifth Test, Gill said Gautam Gambhir gave the squad a key message- not to think of themselves as a "young team" but to see themselves as match-winners.
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This guidance, along with some stellar performances, turned the tide in India’s favour in what has been a gripping series.
What did Shubman Gill say about Gautam Gambhir's message?
After sealing the Oval Test, Gill spoke about the impact of mentor Gambhir’s pep talk before the match.
He said Gambhir had asked the team to stop seeing themselves as an inexperienced group and instead believe they were a “gun team” capable of winning anywhere.
"Gautam Gambhir told us not to think of ourselves as a young team, but as a gun team," Gill said during the press conference after the win.
The young skipper explained that this mindset helped reduce individual pressure. "Thinking about other players put less pressure on me because I was focused on everyone, not just myself. That helped,” he added.
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How did India manage to pull off a dramatic win on Day 5?
The fifth and final Test match ended with one of the most dramatic finishes in recent times.
England needed just 35 more runs on the final day with four wickets in hand. But India’s bowlers turned the game on its head in the morning session.
Mohammed Siraj starred with the ball and wrapped up England's innings with a brilliant five-wicket haul (5/104).
Instead of opting for the new ball, India stuck to their plan- bowl tight, force singles, and stay patient. Their gamble paid off.
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"We had the option of taking the new ball, but the way they were bowling, we thought they could do the job. We had wicket-taking options," said Gill.
"We wanted them to score 30 singles; we knew they were under pressure. We wanted to take the game deep. The way Brook and Root were going, not many teams in the world would have been given a chance," he added,
How did Gill perform across the series?
Gill was named Player of the Series, and rightly so. The 25-year-old finished with 754 runs in 10 innings, scoring four centuries.
His highest came in Birmingham, where he smashed a brilliant 269, followed by another solid knock of 161. He also scored 147 in Leeds and 103 in Manchester.
Talking about his performances, Gill said each hundred felt different and held special meaning.
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"Moments like these make the journey feel worth it. A lot of highs and lows. Every time you bat, you want to score a century, but that’s not how life works. I want to stay balanced. Each hundred I scored had a different significance. Each of them has a story and means a lot to me. Difficult to pick just one," he concluded.
The series had its ups and downs but for Indian fans, a win like the one at The Oval made it all worthwhile.