I don’t know if Shubman Gill will score big against Pakistan. That’s not for anyone to predict either. But what I did see at India’s practice was extremely heartening. The intensity with which Gill trained for a good part of three hours and the diligence in this heat is a lesson for most youngsters and explains why he is being tipped as India’s all format captain going forward.
To break it down. First was the fielding drill and Gill was extremely involved and animated. Trying to throw down stumps at one go, cheering his mates on, it helps the team get intro groove at the ICC academy in Dubai. If there is pressure and there ought to be, it wasn’t really evident seeing his body language. He tried to keep it calm and went about his drills with the highest degree of professionalism.
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And then it was his turn to bat. A complete transformation from what we have seen in England. Gill was hitting sixes consistently and one such shot, straight as an arrow, got a lot of applause from his teammates. He is in sublime touch and it showed. The confidence with which he was negotiating every bowler is indication he has hit a purple patch.
Soon after the batting drill was over, Gill joined Rinku Singh for a special fielding drill with T Dilip. That was the high point of the session for me. Dilip flung the ball to Gill’s left and the vice captain literally threw himself full length and just as he was falling to the ground managed to take a one handed stunner. It was the moment of the evening. The effort had taken a couple of seconds to register and when it did everyone screamed in delight. Gill too had realised he had some something special and savoured the moment by lying down on the ground for a good minute or so to soak it all in.
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Just when it seemed that he was done he accompanied skipper Suryakumar Yadav to do a few short sprints and that continued for a good half an hour. It was all in a days work for Shubman Gill and was evidence of his work ethic. Having seen his journey from England, I can say it with conviction that if Gill manages to not let fame get to his head, he is the next superstar in world cricket. He has every skill and also has the right attitude. He can speak well and is extremely articulate. He has the looks and the perfect image that endears him to brands. In every sense, he is the poster boy who can replace Virat Kohli.
For the moment though all he will be thinking of is Pakistan. He knows it is a high pressure game and he will have to deliver. This is one game where he can’t fail and a loss will mean all hell will break lose. Gill will have that in his subconscious while he goes on with his business as if nothing is different. That’s the new Gill and that’s why he is India’s go to man.
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