The former India coach, Ravi Shastri, recalled his first experience of watching the current captain, Shubman Gill, bat in the nets. He was impressed with the batters’ pull shot and how he was whacking the short balls so young in his career. That was the time when he decided to bring the Punjab-born straightaway into the squad, after a little discussion with the batting coach and the selectors.

Shastri also felt that Shubman Gill, who gives a mirror image of Virat Kohli, should follow the latter’s training session. He also reckoned that having seen Sachin Tendulkar from a close distance early in the career for Mumbai and the National side, and Kohli during his coaching tenure, Gill has impressed him the most.

SEE ALSO: FIR registered against RCB cricketer in sexual harassment case

“I saw him in the nets and Raghu bowls at 160 kmph, because he bowls slingy, and this guy (Gill) whacking him. I didn’t see an Indian player pulling in that fashion. After Kohli, his fellow (is there). And this guy should watch Kohli and how he trained and everything he did.” The former India all-rounder expresses during a live session with Sky Sports Cricket at Lord’s. 

Watch: Ravi Shastri recalls Shubman Gill’s first net session

Gill didn’t make a great start to his red-ball career with an average of 35 before coming into the England series. Despite making a fine 90 against Australia at the Gabba during the BGT 2020-21, he didn’t get his feet in the longest format until getting the leadership responsibilities four weeks ago.

“I called our batting coach, Vikram Rathour, who is from Punjab. I said, Who is this guy, man? Bring him to the mix, immediately. We spoke to the selectors, and he came in pretty quickly. You know he has done well in U-19, but when I first time when I saw him, I thought this is the class. I have seen Tendulkar, who caught your imagination; Kohli, of course, for captaincy, and then this guy.” Shasti was addressed during the same interaction.

Ravi Shastri on when he saw Shubman Gill for the first time in the nets. pic.twitter.com/1BcVaJLT02

— Kaushik Kashyap (@CricKaushik_) July 7, 2025

Gill started the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 with a fine knock of 147 at Leeds before carrying the same form during the second Edgbaston fixture. In the first innings, the right-handed batter nailed 269 runs while in the second, he thumped 161 runs, becoming the first batter in the history to get a 250+ and 150+ score in the same Test.