![What Gill can learn from Kohli [Source: AFP Photo]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1756203083782_whatGillcanlearnfromKohli.jpg?type=mq)
What Gill can learn from Kohli [Source: AFP Photo]
Once, a great man said, India is not a cricket-loving country, but a cricketer-loving nation, and the Asia Cup squad selection proved the statement right. Almost every decision of the selection panel was justified, barring one - the selection of Shubman Gill in a format where he last played in July 2024.
This decision to include the Test captain proved one thing: politics and cricket go hand-in-hand, and there is nothing that you can do about it. If the decision to draft in Gill wasn’t enough, the Test skipper was made the vice-captain of the squad, replacing Axar Patel, who did nothing wrong.
Taking nothing away from Shubman Gill’s superior class, India already have their two openers locked in, and his inclusion disrupted the team combination. But as they say, the best way to silence your critics is by delivering the goods, and Gill has the chance to do the same in the upcoming Asia Cup.
Chance for Gill to redeem himself in Asia Cup
The vice-captain of the team will certainly be included in the playing XI, and that would mean Gill gets a chance to bat at his favourite opening position, and probably, the mighty Sanju Samson has to sacrifice his place. But this provides a great opportunity for the Punjab batter to silence his doubters once and for all. How can he do it? by performing in the matches against the best teams, and by helping India win the Asia Cup.
This is not the first time Gill has been thrown into the deep Ocean, where he had to prove his capability. When the opener made his international debut, Gill had a slow start, and it took him a good amount of time to cement his place in the ODI side, and fast forward to 2025, he is one of India’s most reliable batters alongside veterans, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
Even when he succeeded Rohit as India’s Test skipper, fans wanted to switch off their television channels, as they never wanted to give Gill a chance to prove his captaincy skills. However, the right-handed batter once again proved his doubters wrong, and amassed more than 700 runs with the bat, and led India to a famous 2-2 draw against England, in their own backyard.
Once again, destiny has put Gill under the microscope, and the Indian batter needs to come out with flying colours, because if he fails in the Asia Cup, the T20I doors could officially be closed for him.
The Kohli-esque mentality Gill needs to have
If there is anything that Gill has learned from his idol, Virat Kohli, then it is to absorb pressure and deliver for his team. Kohli was a master on the field and had a mental toughness unrivalled by anyone, and in his relatively short career, Gill has shown the same traits.
The best example of his mental toughness was the recently concluded tour of England. Batting in SENA countries always troubled the Test skipper, and when India toured England, experts believed that captaincy pressure, alongside his poor track record there, could contribute to a disastrous tour.
However, this is what separates great batters from good batters, and Gill certainly proved his greatness with a series to remember. He amassed 754 runs, and as many as 430 of them came in one single Test match at Edgbaston. He mastered the art of batting in swinging conditions and made England bowlers helpless.
This is what the 25-year-old needs to apply in the upcoming Asia Cup. Ever since the squad was revealed, Gill’s selection faced a massive backlash, as fans wanted Yashasvi Jaiswal in the squad.
But this is the kind of environment Gill thrives in, and if he could get his mind straight, then there is no stopping him. He has all the shots in his books to thrive across any format, but the mental toughness is what could determine his Asia Cup campaign, and whether he has the ability to shun his critics.
