Gill, who faced scrutiny after a string of innings without a fifty, bounced back emphatically in the Vizag Test with a century, marking a significant turnaround in his form.
Lakhwinder attributed this resurgence to Shubman’s decision to revert to his attacking instincts by stepping out to the bowlers, a technique ingrained in him since his Under-16 days.”Stepping out has made a big difference. The moment you don’t play your natural game, you are in trouble. Since his U-16 days, he has been stepping out to the spinners and pacers,” Lakhwinder emphasized, speaking to PTI.
Observing his son’s assertive approach during the recent Test match, Lakhwinder expressed delight at Shubman’s aggressive intent, particularly his charge down the track against veteran bowlers like James Anderson.
He also praised Shubman’s trademark shots, the square cut and cover drive, exhibited during his innings at the HPCA Stadium.
However, Lakhwinder expressed reservations about Shubman’s decision to bat at number three, suggesting that continuing to open would have been more suitable for his style of play. He argued that the longer wait in the dressing room at number three could increase pressure, affecting his son’s performance.
“He should have continued to open. It is not right at all I feel. When you sit in the dressing room for longer, the pressure tends to increase. Number 3 is not opening nor it is a middle-order spot,” Lakhwinder opined.
Despite his opinion, Lakhwinder affirmed his respect for Shubman’s autonomy in decision-making, acknowledging his maturity as a cricketer. He highlighted the pride he feels as a father and emphasized his role in supporting Shubman’s training regimen.
“I don’t interfere in his decisions. I just train with him. He is old enough to make his own decisions. I made decisions on his behalf only when he was a teenager,” he said.
Additionally, Lakhwinder praised the BCCI‘s decision to mandate Ranji Trophy appearances for India players when not on national duty, recognizing the importance of red-ball practice in enhancing players’ performance against spinners.
“The calendar is so busy that he hardly trains for red ball, it is white ball mainly. That is why it gets tougher against spinners with the red ball. It is good that the BCCI has taken this step,” said Lakhwinder, who attends the majority of Shubman’s games in India.
(With inputs from PTI)
