Considered one for the long haul, right-hand batsman Shubman Gill, revealed lessons learnt from now-retired India greats Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni. While the India and Punjab youngster said he hasn't had many interactions with them, especially Dhoni, he has availed a lot of his learnings watching the duo play at the highest level.
Gill, who burst into the limelight with his performances at the 2018 U-19 World Cup and made his India debut the following year during an ODI series in New Zealand, said Yuvraj guided him and asked him not pressurise himself too much, whereas just seeing Dhoni go about his business has inspired a never-give-up attitude.
Read Also: How Yuvraj Singh helped IPL-bound Punjab players in training during COVID-19 hiatus
"Yuvi Paaji told me that I have to trust my own game and I have to go there and have fun and enjoy the game. And that I shouldn’t be too hard on myself," Gill told The Indian Express.
"I haven’t interacted much with Mahi bhai but one thing I have learnt from him is that you can win from any situation, you just have to believe in yourself. Just believe in practice, just believe in the hard work, just don’t give it away," added the 20-year-old.
Gill also explained how life amid the COVID-19 lockdown was for him.
"For the major period of time, I was at my village spending time with my grandparents; it was pretty chilled out there," said the cricketer currently in UAE for the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), starting September 19. "We used to play a lot of games, having lots of fun as a family. I was training and having a great time with my family."
"Initially, I thought the pandemic would last two months and things will return to normal. I never expected it to be this long, this huge and this impactful for everyone. I have never stayed away this long ever from the game."
"It was obviously quite tough for all of us but once we started getting back into our routines I wouldn’t say it went back to normal but yes closer to normal for sure," Gill added.
The batting prodigy thinks the biggest challenge for him after the extended break is to get back into that familiar "zone" before IPL 2020.
"I think the major challenge would be to get back into the zone. I am curious to see how I will react once we get back into practice and once we start playing our practice matches."
"I am curious to see how my body will react, but I am sure we all will adapt quickly. I don’t think it will be that difficult because we have been playing for so long in our lives that once we get back to the ground we will know what has to be done."
"It will be a good challenge for all of us to see how our mind and body connects."
A key member of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) line-up, Gill has so far played 27 games for the side and made 499 runs at a strike-rate of 132.36 batting in the middle-order. The young gun is hoping for his best IPL season this year.
"My only goal in this IPL would be doing better than what I did last year; I will be really happy if I could achieve that goal," Gill signed off.
