Virat Kohli has always been an inspiration for young players who enter the Indian team or those who wish to make it into the Indian team. His fitness routine, his dedication to his craft of batting, and his intensity in matches are valuable lessons to any youngsters who want to be the best.
One such youngster is Shubman Gill, who recently broke Virat Kohli’s record for the highest individual score by an Indian in T20Is, when he scored his maiden ton against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, scoring 126* going past Kohli’s record of 122* which he had made in Asia Cup 2022.
Former India fielding coach R Sridhar narrated an incident to highlight Kohli's passion and determination towards being the best at everything he did. Kohli was in beast mode and dishing out an infectious energy that Gill could not stay away from.
"In March 2021, we were in Ahmedabad for the third of 4 Tests against England. It was out first citing of the Narendra Modi Stadium, which would be hosting only the 2nd Day-Night Test in India. We were not guaranteed a place in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC), so there was a lot riding on this match. Much debate had been generated by how the color of the seats, many of which would be unoccupied due to the restrictions necessitated by the pandemic, could offer a difficult backdrop against which to cite the pink ball," Sridhar wrote in his book 'Coaching Beyond'.
‘Bumrah has to work out what he wants to play, short formats or Tests’: Jeff Thomson
Shubman Gill was part of the Indian team then and hadn’t done much after his scintillating 91 in the Brisbane Test win. Entering the home series, Gill was expected to take the next big step in Indian cricket but he couldn't quite do so. Managing just 119 runs from four Tests with the highest score of 50.
"Virat knew he could not control anything else beyond being ready for the unexpected. So, he tucked me aside for a fielding session in the twilight under a not-so-ideal backdrop of orange chairs that dotted the stands, taking close to an unbelievable 200 catches. And that too, the night before a Test match. Shubman Gill, who was looking on from a distance, eventually got so tired of watching that he too decided to join in the fun," added Sridhar.
"Virat smiled at him cheekily and said, ‘I am giving you 10 years in age, young man. The least you can do is take a few catches yourself.’ The session only ended when, in exasperation, the manager came out to inform him that the rest of the squad was ready and good to go and that the team bus was leaving for the hotel in 10 minutes," Sridhar said.
(Hindustan Times inputs)
