In a rare overlap between the worlds of technology and cricket, India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill shared the stage with Google CEO Sundar Pichai at the tech giant’s Gurugram offices on Saturday, February 21, where the prolific batsman gave an impromptu masterclass in one of cricket’s finest skills: playing the short ball.
Gill was seen fielding a question on the subject, with Pichai even going to bat himself, making for an unlikely but entertaining exchange between the two giants of their respective fields. With Google’s growing presence in India and cricket’s status as the country’s most popular sport, this setup was fitting.
The India captain began by explaining the basics of playing a conventional pull shot, emphasizing that arm extension is at its core. “When you play a pull shot, your arms have to be extended. That’s how you meet the ball and stay in full control,” Gill said. It sounds simple enough, but as he went on to explain, the margin for error is razor thin when the dough is rushed.
“But when you’re late, you don’t have as much time. You realize you can’t extend your arms, so instead you use your wrists and hips to generate power,” he explained. It’s a skill most batsmen are forced to develop under pressure, but Gill revealed that for him it was something he actively embraced and developed over time.
“It’s not something you practice very often because you don’t want to get caught late,” he acknowledged. “But I was also the type of player who liked to play late. I liked the ball coming to me. I used my wrists and hips instead of my arms. That’s how I got the ball away faster,” he added.
This insight offered a look at what sets Gill apart from the batter. Where most players try to get into position early and play with their arms fully extended, Gill has made a virtue of the unconventional, turning a potential weakness into one of his more prominent strengths.
Off the field, Gill is on an extended break from competitive cricket. He last appeared in the ODI series against New Zealand, which India lost 1-2, while his last Test appearance also ended in disappointment as the side suffered a home defeat against South Africa.
Meanwhile, India’s T20 side continues their campaign for the FIFA T20 World Cup 2026. Suryakumar Yadav’s men have been impressive so far, sailing through the group stage unbeaten until the Super 8s. They face South Africa on Sunday, on February 22 as they look to become the first team in history to successfully defend their T20 World Cup crown.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
February 21, 2026
