Shubman Gill made 90 runs from 146 deliveries at the Mumbai Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, the most by an Indian batter against New Zealand in the first innings.
Along with Rishabh Pant (60 off 59), Gill ensured India managed a first innings lead in the third and final Test of the series that the visitors have already sealed.
Meanwhile, Gill said that he believes that revisiting all the technical work that he did before the five-Test series against England earlier this year helped him find his bearings during the vital knock.
“Yes, definitely it’s one of my better knocks that I’ve played in Test cricket. In lead up to this Test, it was all about me working on the areas that I’ve worked before the England series that we played,” Gill said at the post-match press conference.
“In that (England) series, I was batting at my best against spinners and just to be able to go back into that mindset and what my positions were while playing spinners, that is what I was trying to replicate before this match in practice.
“The conversation with the coach was just having more repetitions on what I think is the best idea for me to be able to play spinners,” he added.
Gill credited having a clear mindset while batting in pressure situation on a turning track at the start of day two worked well for him.
“I was honestly trying to have fun. I love batting, if I try to think of it as just going out there and having another opportunity to bat for the maximum amount that I can, that is what I was thinking,” he said.
“I was not trying to put too much pressure on myself (by) thinking I have to score these many runs. I was trying to have fun in the middle and enjoy that 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 would put too much pressure on myself, then I’m losing out on the fun of the art of batting, the young batter added.
Gill said putting pressure on the New Zealand bowlers was an approach that worked well during his partnership with Pant.
“When you put the bowlers under pressure, it is difficult for them to bowl in that area consistently and that’s what we talked about,” he said.
“The way Rishabh came in and started hitting those boundaries, in that particular session they were not very consistent with their line and length so that’s how we were able to cash in.”
India suffered a bit of panic at the end of opening day but one good partnership of 70-80 runs on third morning should see the hosts through, said Gill.
Gill and Rishabh Pant’s gave India a 28-run lead after which New Zealand ended the second day at 171 for 9 in their second innings with a lead of 143.