Tamil Nadu spinner R Sai Kishore has revealed how Shubman Gill’s class and consistency forced him to rethink his bowling approach during their early encounters in domestic cricket. Gill, now India’s Test captain, has rapidly risen to prominence after his record-breaking 754-run series against England.
Kishore, who also played under Gill’s captaincy at Gujarat Titans in the IPL, said Gill was a prodigy from his teenage years. “I’ve known him since he was 16. The first time we played him in Under-19s, he scored 260 in Patiala. Later, in the Ranji Trophy, he hit 270. Honestly, it took me four years to figure him out,” Kishore told Sportstar.
Forced to change trajectory
The left-arm spinner admitted that Gill’s dominance left him searching for answers. “I even went back to my coach, Ram Kumar, and said: There’s this guy who’s just smashing me around — what can I do? I had to change my trajectory and add new variations purely because of Shubman. I’ve told him this story too,” Kishore recalled.
Gill’s natural leadership
Speaking about Gill’s captaincy, Kishore praised how seamlessly he has stepped into the leadership role. “He’s taken to captaincy like fish to water. Remember, he had never captained Punjab because he was always with India. But when the team needed a leader, Shubman stepped in. I’m very happy to see how naturally he’s adapted. Hopefully, he’ll grow into a proper leader in the coming years,” he added.
A prodigy fulfilling his promise
From dominating the U-19 World Cup to piling up domestic runs and now leading India, Gill has consistently shown qualities of a natural leader and a batting prodigy. His journey, according to Kishore, has inspired even seasoned cricketers to improve their game.
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