Thu Sep 26 12:37:49 UTC 2024: ## Gill Fine-Tunes Spin Play Ahead of Kanpur Test
**Kanpur, India:** India’s opening batsman, Shubman Gill, has been putting in extra work ahead of the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, focusing on his game against spinners. During a recent practice session, Gill was seen practicing cover drives against Rishabh Pant, who took on the role of a spin bowler.
“Pakdna Jaddu (Jadeja) bhai bhar bhar ke drive maar raha hoon (I will hit a lot of drives),” Gill exclaimed in a video posted by BCCI on X, highlighting his confidence.
Gill’s determination was apparent as he received some playful banter from KL Rahul, who reminded Pant of his spin bowling exploits in the Delhi Premier League. Pant managed to get one past Gill, prompting a humorous reaction from the batsman: “Kya beat kara hai yaar (What a way to beat the batter).”
The practice session saw the presence of several key Indian players including captain Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav, and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
The team arrived in Kanpur on Tuesday, preparing for the second Test, which begins on Friday. The match marks a significant milestone for new head coach Gautam Gambhir, who led India to a dominant 280-run victory in the first Test at Chennai. Gill played a crucial role in that win, remaining unbeaten on 119 runs in the second innings.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who was named the ‘Player of the Match’ in the first Test, continues to shine. His 113-run knock in the first innings and a six-wicket haul in the second innings helped India secure a comfortable victory. Ashwin’s latest five-wicket haul marks his 37th in Test cricket, tying him with legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne for the second-most five-wicket hauls in Test history. Only Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan, with 67, is ahead of Ashwin on that list.
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