How Did Shubman Gill Leave Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri Completely Awestruck?

Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has revealed that Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri were left stunned the very first time they saw Shubman Gill bat in the nets. Gill made his India debut during the five-match ODI series in New Zealand in January 2019.

"It was his first session and he walked out to bat in the nets. Ravi Shastri was the head coach, the captain was Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni was still in the team. We were preparing for the 2019 ODI World Cup," Bangar told Doordarshan Sports, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

"The side-arm throwers and I started to bowl at Shubman. When we pitched it up, he would play the drive. If the ball was a little outside off-stump, he cut it. If it was slightly short, he pulled it. The other nets stopped; only his net was going on, and everyone was watching in amazement — wondering what this was.

"Coach Ravi Shastri was so impressed that he wanted to put him in the playing XI. ‘Isko abhi khila do’ [Play him now]. He left that kind of imprint in his first net session itself, and we realised then that this boy was special.”

Since that moment, Gill has gone on to establish himself as one of India’s most prolific batters. He has already featured in 37 Tests, 55 ODIs, and 21 T20Is, amassing over 6,000 runs across formats. The 25-year-old is now India’s permanent Test captain and had a record-breaking first series in charge during the 2025 England tour.

Gill is also set to feature in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE. The right-hander, who last featured in a T20I in July 2024, has returned to the squad as vice-captain, replacing Axar Patel - a move that underscores the management’s plans to fast-track him as a future all-format leader.