Shubman Gill rates his 90 at the Wankhede on Saturday among his best innings in Test cricket.

He said revisiting all the technical adjustments he did before the five-Test series against England earlier this year helped him find his bearings on a turning wicket.

Gill and Rishabh Pant (60) put on a 96-run stand for the fifth wicket which helped them take a 28-run lead. The spinners then used the conditions well to put India in command at stumps on Day II.

“Yes, definitely it’s one of my better knocks that I’ve played in Test cricket. In the lead up to this Test, it was all about me working on the areas that I’ve worked on before the England series,” Gill said at a news conference.

“In that (England) series, I was batting at my best against spinners and just to be able to go back into that mindset and what my positions were while playing spinners, that is what I was trying to replicate before this match at practice.

“The conversation with the coach was just having more repetitions on what I think is the best idea for me to be able to play spinners,” he added.

Gill felt a clear mindset on a turning track at the start of the second day worked well for him.

“I was honestly trying to have fun. I love batting, if I try to think of it as just going
out there and having another opportunity to bat for the maximum amount (of time) that I can, that is what I was thinking.

“I was not trying to put too much pressure on myself (by) thinking I have to score these many runs. I was trying to have fun in the middle and enjoy that moment, even if it was difficult.

“You don’t get to play that many Test matches. I just feel when I’m batting there, if I put too much pressure on myself, then I’m losing out on the fun of the art of batting,” he said.

Gill said putting pressure on the New Zealand bowlers worked well during his partnership with Pant.

“When you put the bowlers under pressure, it is difficult for them to bowl in that area consistently and that’s what we talked about,” he said.

“The way Rishabh came in and started hitting those boundaries... in that particular session they were not very consistent with their line and length so that’s how we were able to cash in.”

Gill stressed on using the sweep and the reverse sweep to good effect.

“You play these shots to move the fielders out of their place — the fielders that are in the catching position,” he said.

“Yesterday (Friday) I played sweeps and the fielders where I wanted the gaps, For me, it’s all about having those shots, but playing them when I know (it) is absolutely necessary.”

India suffered “a bit of panic” at the end of opening day but “one good partnership” of 70-80 runs on the third morning should see the hosts through, said Gill.