Ravi Shastri explains technical tweaks behind Shubman Gill's blistering form: 'Top hand is in control'

Shubman Gill’s decision-making regarding the playing XI was questioned by fans and experts on Day 1 of the India vs England second Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday, but his batting won everyone over. It was Gill’s second hundred in as many Test matches as India’s new Test captain and a much better knock than the 147 he registered at Headingley.

The highlight of Gill’s knock was the patience he displayed despite India being in a spot of bother after losing Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy for just 50 runs. The 25-year-old Gill ended Day 1 on 114 not out as he stitched an unbeaten 99-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja.

With his latest century at Birmingham, Gill became only the fourth Indian captain to score hundreds in back-to-back matches from his Test captaincy debut after Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar, and Virat Kohli.

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But what’s the reason behind Gill’s top form? Former India head coach Ravi Shastri highlighted the technical adjustments in Gill’s batting, which have allowed him to do well in English conditions.

“Gill’s performance was superb. It was disciplined, he looked solid, looked fantastic. He has worked hard on his defence. When he last came to England, he played with hard hands, pushed at the ball, but now, the top hand is in control. He allows the ball to come to him, trusts in his defence and has all the shots in the book when he goes on the attack,” Shastri told Sky Sports.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan, meanwhile, said that India scoring 310/5 on Day 1 of the second Test has put them in a solid position and the visitors must try to get to 450.

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“Shubman Gill said he’d have bowled but I think this is the way India can beat England – if they score 450. India should’ve won the first Test match if they held their chances. India are doing what they need to do to win this game. England bowled well enough to get two or three more wickets but the rub of the green with the umpire’s calls has gone the way of India. This is a flat wicket and there’s not a lot there for the seamers or spinners and England should score a lot on here if it doesn’t crack,” Vaughan said.