Indian batting sensation Shubman Gill has hailed his 90-run knock on Day 2 of the third Test against New Zealand as one of his finest Test innings. The young talent credited his successful approach to the work he put in during the England series earlier this year.

Gill’s patient and determined innings came on a challenging pitch that offered considerable assistance to the spinners. However, the 25-year-old displayed excellent footwork and shot selection to neutralize the threat posed by the Kiwi bowlers.

Reflecting on his performance, Gill said, “It’s definitely one of my better knocks that I’ve played in Test cricket. In the lead-up to this Test, I revisited the work I did for the England series. In that series, I was batting at my best against spinners, and I tried to replicate that mindset and technique in this match.”

The Punjab-born batsman emphasized the importance of enjoying the game and not getting bogged down by pressure. He explained, “I wasn’t trying to put too much pressure on myself. I was trying to have fun in the middle and enjoy the moment, even if it was difficult. Because you don’t get to play that many Test matches. I just feel when I’m batting there, if I put too much pressure on myself, then I’m losing out on the fun of the art of batting.”

Gill’s crucial partnership with Rishabh Pant provided a much-needed boost to India’s innings. While he fell short of a century, his contribution was invaluable.

Looking ahead to the fourth innings chase, Gill believes that a solid 70-80 run partnership could be decisive. He stated, “It’s all about one good partnership. When you’re chasing a total around 150-160, a 70-80 run stand can change the game. That’s what the conversation will be among the batters. A good partnership can break the opposition’s morale.”

A victory in this Test series would be a significant confidence-booster for India ahead of their upcoming tour of Australia.