'I Focused on Batting like a Kid': India captain Shubman Gill dazzles with 269 at Edgbaston, makes huge Admission

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Shubman Gill produced a masterful innings of 269 to put India in a dominant position at the end of Day 2 of the second Test against England at Edgbaston.

The Indian captain, who had struggled to convert starts in previous matches, showed immense composure and clarity in his approach on a pitch that demanded patience and precise shot selection. After reaching 35 off nearly 100 balls, Gill recalibrated his rhythm and accelerated gradually, finishing with 30 fours and three sixes in his highest Test score to date.

Speaking to JioHotstar's 'Match Centre Live' after stumps on Day 2, Gill explained the thought process behind his innings and the technical adjustments he made in the lead-up to this series.

"I felt the ball had gone soft, and my shots were going straight to the fielders. I was around 35-40 off 100 balls and spoke to Gautam bhai about struggling to find boundaries. The runs weren't coming as freely as they did in the first Test, and I knew if I was set, I had to stay till the end and finish the job. The learnings from the last match were clear-lower-order collapses can happen quickly in these conditions, so my focus was to bat deep and cut down on mistakes," said Gill.

The India captain shared crucial partnerships along the way, including a 203-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja, who contributed 89, and steady support from Yashasvi Jaiswal (87) and Washington Sundar (42). His ability to shift gears after the century marked a significant change in temperament and control, and Gill admitted going back to basics made him score big.

"I had worked on my initial movement and setup during the IPL and in the lead-up to this series. Earlier, I'd often get out around the 30s and 40s- perhaps due to missing my peak concentration window. This time, I went back to the basics, how I used to bat as a kid. I focused on rhythm, stayed relaxed, and didn't think about the score. The idea was to enjoy my batting and stay in the moment," he said.

Gill also opened up about the mental toll of shifting formats, especially from T20 to Test cricket.

"Shifting between formats isn't easy - especially from T20 to Test cricket. After three months of playing instinct-based cricket, it's tough to suddenly switch gears and rein it all in. That's why I started practicing with the red ball during the IPL itself - just to recondition my mind and body for Test match cricket. Test to T20 is manageable, but the other way around really tests your discipline," the India captain added.

India's bowlers backed up the batting effort with early wickets under fading light, reducing England to 77 for 3 by stumps. With a lead of 510 runs and England already under pressure, Gill's innings has not only set the tone for the match but could well prove to be the decisive act of the series.