India batter Shubman Gill understands the immense challenge of matching the remarkable feats of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the T20I format.

However, the rising star is keen to adapt to the role of an opener in the shortest format, following the retirement of both stalwarts.

Gill, who was part of the reserve players list during the recently held T20 World Cup, has been given the responsibility of leading the young Indian side during the five-T20I tour of Zimbabwe, starting on Saturday (July 6) in Harare.

"I think Rohit Bhai was an opener and Virat Bhai also opened in this World Cup...I have also opened in T20s. So, I think I will want to open in T20Is," Gill told reporters on the eve of the series opener.

For Shubman, it is important to chase personally set goals rather than thinking about equaling the achievements of Kohli and Rohit.

"Pressure and expectations...they I think always remain. But what Virat Bhai and Rohit Bhai have achieved, if I look to achieve that or reach that, it will be very difficult for me.

"Every player has his own goal, where he wants to reach. That is the pressure. If you want to reach where other people have reached, then you have more pressure," he stated.

The 24-year-old expressed his admiration for Kohli and Rohit, hailing them as role models for aspiring cricketers.

"Obviously there is pressure. But what they've achieved or what they did for India...they are both idols and legends of Indian cricket. But as players and the team the things we want to achieve, there is definitely pressure about that," Gill remarked.

On a separate note, Shubman Gill confirmed Punjab batter Abhishek Sharma as his opening partner for the Zimbabwe T20I series.

Notably, Abhishek took the cricketing world by storm with his swashbuckling exploits in the IPL 2024 season for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

"Abhishek Sharma will open with me and Ruturaj Gaikwad will bat at No.3," he said.

Having led Gujarat Titans in this year’s IPL, Gill aims to apply the lessons learned to his current responsibilities.

"I've learnt a lot of lessons when I captained my IPL team for the first time. I got to know a lot more things about myself and a lot more things about the leadership perspective," he said.

"I felt most of the challenges that you face as a captain are more mental, how you prepare the boys. Everyone's got the skill set, it's about how you can give them (other players) the confidence to be able to deliver that skill set on the field."

Gill expressed his belief that the Zimbabwe tour will serve an opportunity to the young Indian cricketers to gain valuable experience and exposure to international cricket.

"If you look at the team, it's a quite different team from the one that played in the World Cup. There are a lot of young players in the team, including myself.

"We just want to give the players experience and what it is like to play at the international level because a lot of the players haven't played that many matches and some of the players haven't even made their debut.

"I think that is our aim for the series to give them more international exposure and experience."

Commenting on the Zimbabwe team, Gill said: "I think you guys have got a good T20 team. Even the last time when we played in the one-dayers....the last one-day we played went on to be quite a close one.”

"We know that it's going to be no different. The way you guys are going to come against us is going to be no different than any other nation and that's the challenge for us," he concluded.

(With PTI Inputs)