Shubman Gill, the opening batsman for Team India, revealed that he had no prior knowledge of the controversy surrounding the pitch in the 2023 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. After India’s impressive victory by 70 runs, Gill was asked about the pitch debate in a post-match press conference. To this, he responded with a smile, saying that he became aware of the controversy only when the reporter mentioned it.
In the semi-final at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India posted a formidable total of 397/4 after choosing to bat first, ultimately restricting New Zealand to 327. Before the match, some media reports suggested that the ICC was displeased with the decision to play the semi-final on a used pitch instead of a fresh one. Both the BCCI and the ICC clarified that there was no real cause for controversy.
Gill, unaware of the pre-match discussions, was surprised by the question about the pitch controversy. Despite India’s substantial total, they faced a strong challenge from New Zealand, particularly during the partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson, who added 181 runs for the third wicket.
Gill acknowledged that the Indian team anticipated the challenges of bowling under lights. He mentioned that the key for them was to consistently bowl in the desired areas and wait for the opposition to make mistakes. Although the partnership between Mitchell and Williamson posed a challenge, Gill emphasized that taking a couple of wickets at crucial moments kept India in the game.
Shubman Gill Unaware of Pitch Controversy: “Kya Controversy Thi?”
Shubman Gill 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/Pv4D0ftuNr
— Sahil (@vkrightarmquick) November 15, 2023
