I sometimes lose focus after getting 25-30 runs in red-ball cricket: Shubman Gill
Bengaluru, Jan 26 (PTI): India batter Shubman Gill on Saturday conceded that he has, of late, developed a tendency to lose focus after getting 25-30 runs in red-ball cricket, evidence of which was seen in a couple of his dismissals during the five-match Test series in Australia.
Gill identified this as an area of concern soon after making a fine second-innings hundred for Punjab on the third day of their Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka here. His 102-run knock, though, went in vain as Karnataka hammered the visitors by an innings and 207 runs.
"Red-ball batting is a concern. Sometimes, I think with the red ball, in the matches that I play, I get very good 25-30 runs.
"I think in those moments, sometimes I put too much pressure on myself to be able to score big runs. I think that is not the way that I have grown up playing my game," Gill said.
The elegant batter, who is a treat to watch when in full flow, added, "There is a certain zone that I am in, certain intent that I am in and sometimes I think I lose that because I put too much pressure on myself that I have to get a big run now that I am set.
"I think in those crucial moments, I sometimes lose my focus and concentration. I think it keeps you in the game all the time.
"As a person, I like to be involved in the game and what is happening. I think it brings out the best in me as a player when I am constantly involved in the game."
On the Indian team's last tour of Australia, Gill made just 93 runs in six innings at an average of 18.60. He missed the series opener in Perth due to injury and was dropped for the Boxing Day Test at MCG.
This innings on Saturday will give him some confidence going forward.
"I think any innings that we play at any level, it's very important to be able to get runs, get back in form and have that feel. When you are playing well, when you are in that zone, it's important to stay in that zone as long as possible and that's what I was trying to do when I was batting there.
He described the knock as "satisfying", having got out off an inside edge in the first innings.
"I think this innings was very satisfying for me, the way I played. The first, I think, in 130 balls, I scored 40-odd runs, and they were bowling well and there was some help in the wicket as well. So, keeping that in mind, I think I was very satisfied with the way that I was playing.
"After the lunch, I just thought to play a little bit more of my shots. Also, the wickets were falling from one end. So, I wanted to make sure that I am getting some runs as well, playing some shots."
He said no amount of practice can give a player what he derives from playing in a competitive match at this level.
"I think if there is a chance, we must keep in mind that there is enough of a gap between the match and the next series that you are going to play. So, if there is enough gap, if there is 15-20 days between that, then I think it is very helpful to play the match because the match feels different no matter how much you practice.
"When you go out there playing at any level, there are certain aspects of your game that are challenged when you are playing a match. So, it is helpful."
Gill likened this surface to the one that was used for the Test match against New Zealand three months ago.
"I think the first inning when we batted, the wicket was quite damp. I think it was like the match that we played against New Zealand here. The only difference that I would say, there was a little bit more grass on this wicket.
"And in the second innings, I think it got a little easier to play your shots. In the first inning, the ball was stopping and seemed a bit too much to play the shots.
"In the second inning, the ball was still, I felt seaming, but it was still easier to play your shots because the ball was coming at a good pace."
Among the India stars returning to the domestic circuit, Gill was the lone centurion and played 171 balls for his knock.
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In phone call, PM Modi, US President Trump resolve to promote global peace, security
New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to work towards a "trusted" partnership between India and US and advance global peace and security in their first phone conversation since the American leader's inauguration last week.
Modi and Trump exchanged views on global issues, including the situation in West Asia and Ukraine, and deliberated on measures to boost bilateral cooperation in areas such as technology, trade, investment, energy and defence, an Indian readout said.
The two leaders agreed to meet soon, it said.
"Delighted to speak with my dear friend President @realDonaldTrump @POTUS.
Congratulated him on his historic second term," Modi said on 'X'.
"We are committed to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership. We will work together for the welfare of our people and towards global peace, prosperity, and security," he said.
In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said the two leaders "reaffirmed" their commitment for a "mutually beneficial and trusted partnership".
"They discussed various facets of the wide-ranging bilateral Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and measures to advance it, including in the areas of technology, trade, investment, energy and defence," it said.
"The two leaders exchanged views on global issues, including the situation in West Asia and Ukraine, and reiterated their commitment to work together for promoting global peace, prosperity and security," the PMO said.
"The leaders agreed to remain in touch and meet soon at an early mutually convenient date," it added.
It is not immediately known whether the issues of immigration and tariff figured in the talks.
Like in many countries, there have been some concerns in India as well over the Trump administration's approach on immigration and tariff.
President Trump has already talked about slapping "100 per cent tariffs" on the BRICS grouping, a bloc that includes India too.
It is learnt that the phone call was initiated from the Indian side.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last week that India is looking for "bolder, bigger and a more ambitious" relationship with the US and indicated its readiness to work with the Trump administration to address issues like illegal immigration and trade.
The phone conversation between Modi and Trump came six days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held separate meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz in Washington.
Jaishankar also attended the Quad foreign ministers' meeting in the American capital. The meeting was the Trump administration's first foreign policy engagement.
At a media briefing in Washington on January 22, Jaishankar said his meetings signalled that the Trump administration "prioritising" the bilateral relationship with India.
The external affairs minister also said that there was agreement between the two sides about the need to be bolder, bigger, and more ambitious about the bilateral relationship.
Asked about the Trump administration's policy on tariff and immigration, Jaiswal said on Friday that India is looking at addressing issues in a constructive manner.
"Our approach has always been to address issues in a constructive manner which is in keeping with the interests of both countries," he had said at his weekly media briefing last week.
"We remain in close communication with the US administration and would like to continue to work towards strengthening our economic partnership further," he said.
India is also keen to continue cooperation under the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) that was launched during the tenure of the Biden administration.
