Shubman Gill reflected on his recent struggles in red-ball cricket after scoring a composed second-innings century for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy. Despite his 102-run effort showcasing his immense talent, Punjab suffered a heavy defeat, losing to Karnataka by an innings and 207 runs.

Acknowledging the challenges of red-ball cricket, Gill said, "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, I put too much pressure on myself to score big runs. That’s not the way I have grown up playing my game."

The right-hander admitted that overthinking often hampers his rhythm. "There is a certain zone that I am in, a certain intent that I am in, and sometimes I lose that because I put too much pressure on myself that I have to get a big run now that I am set," he explained.

Gill’s century was a mix of early discipline and later aggression, and he found it particularly satisfying after his dismissal off an inside edge in the first innings. "I think this innings was very satisfying for me, the way I played," he said. "In the first 130 balls, I scored 40-odd runs. They were bowling well, and there was some help in the wicket as well. Keeping that in mind, I was very satisfied with the way I was playing.”

Talking about his shift in approach, Gill noted, “After lunch, I just thought to play a little bit more of my shots. The wickets were falling from one end, so I wanted to make sure I was getting some runs as well.”

Highlighting the importance of match practice, he remarked, "When you’re playing at any level, certain aspects of your game are challenged that you can’t replicate in practice. So, if there’s enough of a gap before the next series, I think it’s very helpful to play matches."

Gill’s introspection, combined with his impressive knock, signals his determination to address red-ball challenges and regain consistency in the format.