India has been blessed with many great batters who have over the years taken up the burden of regularly scoring runs in the Men in Blue. Players such as Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar have the burden of expectations placed upon them like real-life heroes since the first batting sensation in India, Sunil Gavaskar.
In a recent podcast, Shubman Gill, who is being heralded as India’s next great batsman, disclosed that he grew up looking up to Tendulkar. The Master Blaster was his father’s favorite cricket player and the reason he started playing, according to India’s T20I vice captain. But after learning the technical and cerebral facets of the game, Gill began to admire Kohli and was motivated by his enthusiasm for the game and desire to score runs.
“I have had two idols. The first one was Sachin Tendulkar. He was my dad’s favorite, and I actually got into cricket because of him. He retired in 2013, and around 2011–2013 was when I really started to understand cricket properly — not just the skills, but also the mental and tactical side of the game,” Shubman said in a podcast on Apple Music.
“That was also the time I began following Virat Kohli closely. I loved watching the way he went about his business, the sheer passion he had for the game, and the hunger he carried. You can learn all the skills and all the technique, but hunger is something you either have or you don’t. Virat had it in abundance, and that really inspired me.”
Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill Key to India’s Strategy Ahead of Asia Cup Clash with Pakistan
India will be relying heavily on Shubman Gill in the present Asia Cup. On his right-handed bat, the United Arab Emirates made its debut against India, with the reigning champions trailing the 58-run total in only 4.3 overs, aided by an unconquered 20 off nine balls by the right-handed batsman. It was the first Twenty20 International that Shubman had not played in since July 2024. On Sunday, September 14, India will face their next match against their arch-rivals, Pakistan, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The team management is expected to strategize carefully, relying on Gill’s form at the top of the order to set the tone for the innings. Analysts suggest that India’s batting lineup will need to complement Gill’s aggressive approach with steady partnerships, especially against Pakistan, who have historically posed stiff competition in major tournaments. Fans are already anticipating a high-voltage clash, with both teams looking to gain an early advantage in the Asia Cup standings.
