In the space of a few months this year, Shubman Gill has graduated from the next big thing in Indian cricket to its newest poster boy, the new Virat Kohli, so to speak. Not only has Gill become the team’s only premier batter who regularly plays all three formats, he also leads them in Tests and ODIs. Additionally, he has been handed over the vice-captaincy in T20Is, indicating he could be up for a leadership promotion in the shortest format too, given he manages to hold onto the spot in an increasingly competitive environment.
Not to forget, he also leads his IPL franchise, Gujarat Titans.
Since February, Gill hasn’t skipped a single tournament, be it IPL, a bilateral ODI series at home, or the Asia Cup, which was his first T20I tournament for India in over a year. And he is the only India cricketer to do so.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra feels that if a batter is feeling the workload pressure, then it’s better to take a break from playing in IPL than skipping international cricket.
“I asked Gautam Gambhir exactly that (about Gill’s workload management). His point was that if you need workload management, then skip the IPL,” JioStar expert Aakash Chopra told News18 during the Media Day ahead of the second Test between India and South Africa.
“If you feel that leading an IPL team puts too much pressure, then don’t lead. While playing, (if) you are fit and not mentally fatigued… can turn up with 100 per cent intensity, play every single game you can – as a batter – I second the opinion that when you are going through a good form, you really want to maximise. You never know when the bad form (will hit you) or where the next run is going to come from. We have all gone through those feelings,” Chopra added.
