IPL 2021: It was important to assess the wicket – Shubman Gill reveals his game plan against SRH

Kolkata Knight Riders opening batsman Shubman Gill revealed his game plan after he played a match-winning knock of 57 runs from 51 balls at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

KKR had to chase an under-par score of 116 runs but the pitch was a tricky one and it was not easy to hit the ground running for the batters.

SRH did make it tough for KKR but Gill played a crucial hand. The right-hander got off to a sedate start as he took his time in the initial phase. Gill scored 25 runs off the first 29 balls but then changed gears to bring his fifty off 44 balls. The right-hander showed maturity in his knock and added 55 runs with Nitish Rana, who played a second fiddle in the third wicket alliance.

Shubman Gill scored 10 boundaries in knock and timed the ball with perfection. Gill wasn’t in the best of forms and this knock will certainly help him add a shot in the arm. The KKR opener revealed his game plan and said it was crucial for them to keep wickets in hand.

Gill said in the post-match presentation, “It was important to keep the wickets in hand, and when the balls and runs were closer then just take it easy. It was important to assess the wicket. It wasn’t easy to hit the spinners on this wicket. I was targeting the shorter side, and the leg-side was shorter than the off-side at one end.

When I didn’t have much runs under the belt, you don’t want the opposition to gain the upper hand. When you play on slower wickets, it’s more important to play with the wrists and that comes naturally to me. I took on the extra pace (of Umran) today and it came off in this game, but in another game it might not”.

Gill will look to continue his good form for KKR and he is going to hold the key as Ventakesh Iyer has also grabbed his opportunity at the top of the order. Furthermore, Rahul Tripathi has also done a fine job and thus the KKR top-order has delivered the goods.

KKR have kept themselves in the playoff race and they will be able to qualify for the last match if they go on win against RR in their next match. The Eoin Morgan-led team has won four out of the six matches in the second phase and they have ticked the right boxes as a unit.

KKR will play their last league stage match against RR at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday.