‘Shubman Gill is writing his own script’: Ex-cricketer says only his father can tell if he’s like Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni

Only Shubman Gill's father can tell him if he's like Dhoni or Kohli, says Manjrekar.

Shubman Gill’s journey to the top of Indian cricket began in the fields of Punjab, where his first coach—and biggest supporter—was his father, Lakhwinder Singh. Once an aspiring cricketer himself, Lakhwinder eventually became a farmer, but his passion for the game never faded. He recognized his son’s potential early on and played a pivotal role in laying the foundation for what would become a promising international career. Even after Gill’s rise to stardom, his father has remained a steady pillar of support.

This strong foundation, many believe, has helped Gill remain grounded through the highs and lows of international cricket. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar is among those who credit Lakhwinder’s early guidance as a key factor in the young captain’s success.

“The solid foundation his father was able to instill in him as a young boy has helped him cope with difficult circumstances,” Manjrekar noted.

Also Read - Shubman Gill slams England’s tactics after Zak Crawley spat: 'That wasn't in the spirit of the game'

As India trails 1-2 in the Test series against England with two matches to go, Gill finds himself at a critical juncture. Despite being India’s leading run-scorer in the series so far, the pressure is immense. The series could easily have swung in India’s favor had the team capitalized on key moments—but that’s the unforgiving nature of international cricket. A few minutes of pressure can undo hours of dominance.

Now, as India’s youngest Test captain in recent times, Gill faces the dual challenge of reviving team morale after a painful defeat at Lord’s and building a competitive playing XI amid injuries to key players like Akash Deep and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

The final day at Lord’s also marked a shift in Gill’s on-field demeanor. For the first time, he drew attention for reasons beyond his batting—displaying a fiery, aggressive streak that seemed to spark a strong response from Ben Stokes and the English team. It was a side of Gill many had not seen before.

Sanjay Manjrekar weighed in on this new facet of Gill’s personality. “If Shubman Gill had that kind of a fiery side to him, we would have seen it a little earlier. You don't have to show it when you're the captain. Or did he show it because he's got this confidence now that he's won a Test match, and he's got so many runs? Because with Virat Kohli, you could see that he was ready for a scrap. He was always waiting to get in the thick of things. Even when he wasn't a captain, you could see him coming in there. So that was a trait that we'd seen even before he was captain. With Shubman Gill, I've never seen it before," Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo.

Also Read - Fourth Test and fourth different bowling combinations for India - Where does it leave Kuldeep Yadav?

Gill now faces perhaps his toughest Test yet—both literally and figuratively—as the final match looms in Manchester. Australian legend and former India coach Greg Chappell has acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge ahead. Yet, Manjrekar believes the person best equipped to guide Gill through this phase is none other than his father.

“There are a lot of good people around him. His father [who played a big part as he grew up pursuing a career in cricket], in fact, would know him, would know his child, whether he's a Virat Kohli, potential Virat Kohli or [MS] Dhoni or somewhere in between. I'm guessing somewhere in between. So he's got to find his own way. But whatever way that is, it's got to be a way that will enhance his leadership qualities and make him a better batter,” Manjrekar concluded.

As India heads into a decisive clash, all eyes will be on Shubman Gill—not just as a batter, but as a leader carving his own legacy.