Advantage to have a skipper like Kohli who wants you to go all in: Shubman Gill

NEW DELHI: Shubman Gill might be 20 but Indias limited-overs deputy Rohit Sharma has already tagged him the "future". In fact, even skipper Virat Kohli felt he wasnt 10 per cent of what Gill is when he saw him at the nets as a 19-year-old. These are big names in world cricket and when they have such compliments to give, it can add to the pressure of expectations. But not for Gill.

Speaking to IANS, Gill threw light on Rohit's affection, Kohli's advice, looking forward to playing the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League and how this unforeseen break due to the coronavirus pandemic means players will have to work on the mental aspect of the game when they return to the training ground.

Replying to Gill on his birthday message, Rohit recently wrote "Thanks Future." So does that add to the pressure? Considering that pundits already feel that Gill has it in him to take world cricket by storm. The Punjab batsman says for him, he just feels good to be complimented.

"Yes, it always feels good when someone like Rohit Sharma says that. I don't feel any added pressure because that's how I am. I don't feel any pressure when one compliments me or if someone is critical," he said.

Gill is young and likes to express himself on the field and luckily for him, he has a captain in Kohli who wants his boys to go out and be their natural selves. The youngster believes it is indeed an advantage to have a leader who let's players express themselves freely.

"Yes, it's definitely an advantage when your captain wants you to go all in and there is no pressure. You won't feel that there is one per cent of your game that would be left when you are on the field so it's always good for the young players when the captain backs you," he smiled. IANS