Shubman Gill talks about his Test form ahead of IND vs BAN series

The Indian team will return to Test cricket after over 8 months where they last played against England at home. The squad will now kickstart the red-ball season with a 2-match Test series against Bangladesh starting on September 19. As the camp prepares to host Bangladesh who recently registered a 2-0 series win against Pakistan at their home, the young Indian batter has opened up about his struggle in the longest format of the game. The 25-year-old, Shubman Gill recently talked about how his performance in the series against England served as a significant "confidence boost" at a time when he was struggling to find consistency in his Test performances.

Shubman Gill credits England series as a 'confidence booster' for him

The 5-match home Test series against England earlier this year was the first instance for Gill to feature in such a lengthy Test assignment. Shubman Gill, who recently turned 25, in his latest interaction, reflected on how the experience of playing a five-match series against England fared for him. The top-order batter expressed that the chance to play every game had a positive impact on his self-assurance.

"That was a big confidence boost for me, especially after losing the first Test match. Quite a few players were unavailable, so there was pressure on us to win the series," said Gill. "I had never played five Test matches before, so it was a good experience and exciting to feel that intensity. Even after getting breaks following two Test matches, we never dropped that intensity," Gill added.

Shubman Gill in Tests after his iconic 91-run knock at the Gabba

Shubman Gill, now the vice-captain of Indian white-ball team, made his Test debut back in 2020 in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The youngster swiftly gained prominence in the game as he played an instrumental role in India’s historic Gabba breach. Gill scored a notable 91-run knock against Australia at the Gabba in 2021, a victory that ended Australia’s 32-year unbeaten streak at the venue. Despite consistent performances in white-ball formats since over the recent years, Gill has faced challenges with form in Test cricket after this breakthrough series.

Following disappointing performances on tours to England, South Africa, and the ICC World Test Championship final between 2022 and early 2024, Gill's position in the Test squad was under scrutiny. However, his impressive showing in the home series against England helped him silence critics. This year, Gill has scored 498 runs in six Tests and 11 innings, averaging 49.80, with two centuries and two fifties. His highest score this year is 110.

Moreover, across 25 Tests, Gill has accumulated 1,492 runs at an average of 35.52, including four centuries and six fifties from 46 innings. With a busy schedule of ten Test matches ahead, Gill aims to significantly increase his run tally to match his high potential. Recently, he led India A against India B in the first round of the Duleep Trophy, where his team lost by 76 runs. The series against Bangladesh will commence on September 19 in Chennai, with the second Test scheduled to begin on September 27 in Kanpur.