Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma, two prolific Indian openers, are gearing up for their return to international action as the Indian cricket team prepares to kick off their campaign in the Asia Cup 2023. Their first match in this tournament will be against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 2. While both players have been absent from India’s ongoing T20I series against Ireland, they are expected to play crucial roles in the upcoming Asia Cup, which will be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Gill applauds Rohit’s approach of encouraging free expression
In anticipation of this tournament, Gill shared his thoughts on his partnership with Rohit, which has proven to be quite successful across various formats. One of the key aspects the 23-year-old highlighted was the leadership of Rohit as the Indian captain. Gill mentioned that Rohit encourages every player to express themselves freely and play their natural game, instilling confidence in the team.
“It feels great to be able to open with him (Rohit), especially knowing that all the focus is on him. He’s someone who likes the other batters to go and just express himself and play the way I want to play the game. So in that nature, he gives the players full freedom for how they want to express their game,” Gill was quoted as saying by ICC.
Gill points to batting style diversity as a winning formula for their pair
Gill and Rohit have forged an impressive partnership in One-Day Internationals (ODIs), accumulating a remarkable 685 runs at an average of 76.11. Gill believes what makes their opening pair particularly effective is the contrast in their batting styles. Rohit is known for his aggressive approach right from the beginning of the innings, often setting the tone with powerful strokes. In contrast, Gill is recognized for his more measured and cautious style of play, which provides a balanced combination at the top of the order.
“I think because his (Rohit’s) targeted areas are a bit different (to mine). He loves to go aerial in the Powerplay, and I’m someone with likes to find the gaps and keep getting those boundaries, and he’s someone who likes to hit sixes. So I think that combination works well,” Gill concluded.
Following the Asia Cup, Men in Blue will shift their focus to the ICC Cricket World Cup, where they will face Australia in their tournament opener on October 8 in Chennai. The return of Gill and Rohit promises to bolster India’s batting lineup and adds to the anticipation of these upcoming cricketing events.
