How Does Gill Feel About Having Rohit and Kohli on His Team?
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Vadodara, Jan 10 (NationPress) The captain of India's ODI squad, Shubman Gill, expressed his views on sharing the field with two cricketing legends, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, as these icons continue to excel in the 50-over format at both national and international levels.
The Indian team is gearing up to compete against New Zealand in a three-match ODI series, starting this Sunday, with the initial match set to take place at the BCA Stadium (Kotambi) in Vadodara. This match will mark the return of Rohit and Kohli to the Indian squad, while Gill will resume his captaincy role in this format after missing out on the previous series against South Africa.
“Among the two players you mentioned, one is regarded as one of the greatest openers (Rohit) in ODI history, and Virat bhai is undeniably one of the finest ODI batsmen in existence. Hence, having both these individuals in your side certainly simplifies things,” an enthusiastic Gill shared with reporters during the pre-match conference.
“In challenging circumstances, they have navigated tough situations numerous times in their careers. Therefore, you can always consult them to gain insights on their thought processes or strategies. That kind of knowledge is incredibly valuable for any captain,” he elaborated.
Both Rohit and Kohli recently participated in a couple of Vijay Hazare Trophy matches, representing their respective teams, Mumbai and Delhi, where both scored centuries contributing to their teams' victories. Notably, Kohli's century against Andhra Pradesh made him the fastest player to achieve 16,000 List A runs. He is now just two centuries shy of equaling the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record of 60 List A centuries.
On discussing the team environment with the presence of Kohli and Rohit, Gill remarked, “The atmosphere within the team is fantastic. The players you mentioned have been part of this environment for decades, continuously striving to advance Indian cricket. Their recent performances in the last series further exemplify this. The team spirit is currently exceptional.”
Following their first ODI in Vadodara, both teams will travel to Rajkot for the second match, which will be held at the Niranjan Shah Stadium. The series will conclude on January 18 at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.