Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) young batsman Shubman Gill reckoned that batting in the middle-order for his IPL team was a game changing experience for him. The young player made his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut back in 2018, and since then he has been batting in the middle-order. The 21 year-old said it was a great learning experience for him and also that he got to understand a lot more about the game.
“It was a game-changing experience for me because I’ve never batted that [low] down the order. It really helped me grow as a batsman if I look at it that way, because it helped me look at the game from different angles and understand different aspects of the game,” Shubman Gill told ESPNcricinfo.
However, in the latter part of the 2019 IPL, he began batting in his natural position at the top of the order and achieved significant success.
Gill who is likely to open the batting at IPL 2020, believes that his role would be to anchor the KKR innings and let other players bat around him.
“My role will be the same as what I did at the end of last season when I was opening… To guide the whole innings till the end. That would be my role if I open and neither will it change if I open with a conventional batsman or a [pinch-hitter like] Narine. I don’t think [being the senior opener] will really change my batting mindset, “ he added.
My responsibility would be to be the voice of the youngsters: Shubman Gill on his role at IPL 2020
KKR head coach Brendon McCullum had earlier made it clear that Shubman Gill will be a part of their leadership group, which also includes Morgan and skipper Dinesh Karthik this season. Reacting on the same, Shubman Gill said he will be the voice of youngsters in the group.
“It feels good to be a part of the leadership group. Having said that, I think my responsibility would be to the voice of the people who have just come in. The youngsters who have just come in will be feeling shy and conservative. My responsibility would be to be their voice and to help them go about their things.” said Shubman Gill.
Shubman Gill is the most talented and most exciting Indian batsmen. Shubman has already been called the upcoming star of the Indian batting line up.
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will begin their IPL 2020 campaign against defending champions Mumbai Indians on September 23 at Abu Dhabi.
