Indian ODI vice-captain Shubman Gill on Tuesday (February 4) made it clear that there is no ‘toxic’ rivalry between him, Abhishek Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal despite competing for the same top-order positions across formats.

Gill added that both the left-handers are his good friends and he never wishes bad on them. Instead, he always hopes that they perform well for the country whenever they play.

Abhishek, who is from Gill’s batch of India Under-19 team that won the Youth World Cup in 2018, has gone past him as the first-choice T20I opener. On the other hand, Jaiswal has established himself as India’s leading opening batter in Tests.

Gill has a similar status in ODIs, where he has been touted as the next leader by chief selector Ajit Agarkar.

“Abhishek is a childhood friend of mine, Jaiswal is also a good friend," Gill said in a press conference in Nagpur where India will play the first ODI against England on February 6.

“I don’t think there’s any toxic competition between us. Obviously, when you are playing for the country, you want to perform in every match. [But] you don’t really think, ‘Oh, I wish this guy doesn’t perform’ or ‘I wish he doesn’t perform’. You are playing for… you are representing the country, you are playing for the country so whoever does well, you feel good for them and you congratulate them."

Shubman Gill sealed his place in the ODI side when he finished as the team’s leading run-getter in 2023, hitting as many as five centuries. He was appointed the vice-captain last year and has been handed the deputy role again for the England series and the subsequent Champions Trophy.

“I take it as a challenge to lead my way, firstly with my performance and then definitely in the field if Rohit bhai would want my opinions. It’s my duty to let him know what my thoughts are," Gill said about leadership.