Shubman Gill admitted that not being able to force a victory in the second Test had left him “frustrated” but gave a “10 out of 10” for the effort and intent his players showed.
“It gets very frustrating. We attacked a lot in the beginning. But I think as the match went on, the wicket got slower. It was not like the ball was not moving and when the ball was spinning, the wickets were not in play. It was not like the wicket was very flat,” Gill said at the post-match news conference in Colombo.
“Unless you are playing a shot and looking to make a run, then it is difficult to take a wicket. We tried all that we could, and I don’t think there was any lack of intensity or the efforts that we put in. The spinners bowled 50-60 overs on the trot for three days.
“Fielding for three days is not an easy task in these conditions. I would say 10 out of 10 for the effort and the intent. They also played really well,” he added.
“On Day IV, we thought we had created chances. If there was a little more pressure, the wickets would have come, and then maybe the result would have been better. But as long as we still have a chance to qualify for the World Test Championship (final), it’s fine.”
Gill remained optimistic. “I still think we’ve got a pretty good chance to qualify for the WTC final. If we play the New Zealand series well and then, hopefully, by the time the Australia series comes, we just have to win the series… We’ll then be in a good position to qualify for the WTC (final).”
The India captain dismissed any fitness worries about Mohammad Siraj, who bowled at a slower pace and often from a shorter run-up in this Test. “Siraj is not injured,” he said.