The highly anticipated clash between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2023 is set to ignite the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. GT’s explosive opener, Shubman Gill, has been in the form of his life, recently decimating the formidable bowling lineup of RCB. With a staggering 680 runs in 14 innings, an average of 56.67, and a scintillating strike rate of 152.47, Gill has emerged as a true batting powerhouse.
However, GT cannot afford to become complacent as the playoffs present a whole new challenge. The batting position of GT skipper Hardik Pandya will be intriguing to watch, as he has shown the ability to anchor the innings as well as unleash aggressive strokes when needed.
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Meanwhile, CSK’s heavy reliance on their openers, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway, could prove detrimental, especially when facing the fierce pace and impeccable line and length of bowlers like Mohammed Shami and Alzarri Joseph.
Gurkeerat Singh Mann, a former Punjab Kings player and teammate of Shubman Gill in domestic cricket, shared some insights about Gill’s remarkable preparation and evolution as a cricketer in an interaction with the Indian Express. Mann emphasized Gill’s meticulous approach to every match, highlighting his extensive preparations. Mann recalled how Gill would tailor his training in the nets to match the dimensions of the Chepauk Stadium, providing him with a distinct advantage on match day.
“He prepares a lot before every match. He sets his areas where he can hit a certain bowler. He watches videos of all the bowlers. He goes big in the pre-match preparation,” revealed Gurkeerat Singh Mann.
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Drawing from his experience of playing junior cricket alongside Gill, Mann highlighted Gill’s remarkable transformation in terms of power hitting. Despite struggling initially, Gill’s dedication and hard work paid off as he developed the short-arm jab and the powerful slap shots through covers, adding a new dimension to his game.
“In junior cricket, he was very thin and never had that power. But over time, he has worked on his power game and developed the range of power strokes. After initially struggling for runs, he bounced back as a better player,” praised Gurkeerat Singh Mann.