IPL 2022: I think the season has been quite special to me – Shubman Gill

Gujarat Titans’ opening batter Shubman Gill was delighted after his team clinched their maiden IPL title in their debut season.

Gill played an instrumental role in the success of the team as he provided good starts to his team throughout the season. The youngster also played a crucial knock of 45 runs off 43 balls in the all-important final against Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday in the run-chase of 131 runs.

Gill amassed 483 runs in 16 matches for the newcomers at an average of 34.50 and a strike rate of 132.32. Ergo, the right-hander batted at the top of his game to deliver the goods for the Hardik Pandya-led team.

It was a special season for Gill, who has always been under scrutiny for his below-par strike rate in the IPL.

Gill said on GT’s social media handles: “I think the season has been quite special to me. I have had some really good moments and I’ve had my down as well, but that’s how our season goes. I think tough players and tough teams do last if they have the right mind.”

Meanwhile, Shubman Gill was roped in by Gujarat Titans as the third pick from the player draft ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. Many cricket experts were not putting their money on the new franchise as they thought they had a bleak batting order. However, GT was able to prove its mettle in the very first season.

“Nobody considered GT a threat among the teams and nobody considered us even in the top four teams who would qualify. When people were saying that, it did not make sense to me because it does not matter what people say. Once we got the momentum, the important thing was that we never really let it slip away from us.”

Gill added that IPL is a special tournament as it gives opportunities to players and teams to redeem themselves despite a poor start.

“After ending up on the winning side, you obviously want to be better and want to improve on your mistakes. But if the team is doing well and you are not doing well, you can still take it and move on to the next match. Because IPL is one tournament where you actually get so many opportunities to redeem yourself as a player as well as a team. That’s why this tournament is so special.”

Gill will look to keep up his good form in the domestic circuit. The right-hander is part of India’s squad for the rescheduled Test match against England.