India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill has said that staying away from “external factors” helps him handle pressure both on and off the field. Gill will lead India in the third and final ODI against England on Sunday, with the visitors aiming for a 2-1 series win.
“The way I deal with pressure is by keeping focused on the things that are in my control and keep myself away from the external factors,” said Gill during an interactive session at a diaspora reception hosted by the High Commission of India in London on Saturday.
India’s T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, who has battled injuries in the recent past, credited his teammates for motivating his return.
“I just wanted to get out of the hospital. The calls from my team members gave me a lot of motivation
to head back to my training and come back stronger,” said Iyer during the session coordinated by India’s Deputy High Commissioner to the UK, Kartik Pande.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir described the UK as a “special place”, citing the deep-rooted history between the two nations.
“Indian cricket does not just belong to the people sitting in the dressing room. It belongs to every honest Indian cricket fan, who supports us selflessly and unconditionally,” said Gambhir.
India’s High Commissioner to the UK, P Kumaran, welcomed the team and highlighted the broader impact of the India-UK Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA), which came into force this week.
“We are hopeful that it [CETA] opens up many possibilities for business services as well as sports-related activities,” said Kumaran.
“Over the years, Team India has made us proud many times over and over with your achievements,” he added.
Rajiv Shukla advised players to stay away from social media before matches and focus on their game.
“In India, the problem is that 99 percent of the people are cricket experts… so just try to avoid social media. There’s no dearth of talent in Team India; they are full of talent,” said Shukla at the gathering held at India House.
(With PTI Inputs)
