In Harare, Shubman Gill understands how difficult it is to replicate the towering feats of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, but the young batting star wants to take on the role of T20I opener following the retirement of the two greats from the modern format.
Gill, who was one of the roaming reserves during the just-concluded T20 World Cup, leads a second-string Indian team in the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe starting here on Saturday.
"I think Rohit Bhai was an opener and Virat Bhai also opened in this World Cup... I also opened in T20. So I think I will want to open in T20Is," he said during the pre-match press conference here. .
Gill said that he wanted to pursue his own goals without putting too much pressure as he thought of matching the two greats Kohli and Rohit.
When asked how he will deal with the burden of expectations, Gill said: "The pressure and the expectations... I think they always remain. But what
Virat Bhai and Rohit Bhai have achieved it, if I look to achieve it or achieve it, it will be very difficult for me.
"Each player has his own goal, where he wants to go. That's the pressure. If you want to go where others have gone, then you have more pressure," he said.
The 24-year-old termed Kohli and Rohit as idols for young cricketers.
"Obviously there is pressure. But what they have achieved or what they did for India... they are idols and legends of Indian cricket. But as players and a team, the things we want to achieve, there is definitely pressure about it."
Gill confirmed that Abhishek Sharma, who was in sensational form for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024, will open the innings with him in the five-match T20I series.
"Abhishek Sharma will open with me and Ruturaj Gaikwad will bat at number 3," he said.
Gill had led the Gujarat Titans in the IPL after Hardik Pandya took over the captaincy of the Mumbai Indians.
Gill relied on that experience in Zimbabwe.
"I learned a lot of lessons when I captained my IPL team for the first time. I learned a lot more things about myself and a lot more things about leadership perspective," he said.
"I felt like most of the challenges you face as a captain are more mental, how you prepare the guys. "Everyone has the skill set, it's about how you can give them (other players) the confidence to be able to develop that skill set. in the countryside."
Gill said the young Indian team will gain a lot of experience and get much-needed exposure to international cricket during the series against Zimbabwe.
"If you look at the team, it is quite different from the one that played in the World Cup. There are a lot of young players in the team, including myself.
"We just want to give the players experience and what it's like to play at international level because a lot of the players haven't played that many games and some haven't even made their debut.
"I think our goal with the series is to give them more international exposure and experience."
Talking about Zimbabwe, Gill said: "I think you guys have a good T20 team. Even the last time we played in the one-day matches... the last day we played was quite close. .
"We know it will be no different. The way you will confront us will be no different than any other nation and that is the challenge for us," he concluded.
Gill, who was one of the roaming reserves during the just-concluded T20 World Cup, leads a second-string Indian team in the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe starting here on Saturday.
"I think Rohit Bhai was an opener and Virat Bhai also opened in this World Cup... I also opened in T20. So I think I will want to open in T20Is," he said during the pre-match press conference here. .
Gill said that he wanted to pursue his own goals without putting too much pressure as he thought of matching the two greats Kohli and Rohit.
When asked how he will deal with the burden of expectations, Gill said: "The pressure and the expectations... I think they always remain. But what
Virat Bhai and Rohit Bhai have achieved it, if I look to achieve it or achieve it, it will be very difficult for me.
"Each player has his own goal, where he wants to go. That's the pressure. If you want to go where others have gone, then you have more pressure," he said.
The 24-year-old termed Kohli and Rohit as idols for young cricketers.
"Obviously there is pressure. But what they have achieved or what they did for India... they are idols and legends of Indian cricket. But as players and a team, the things we want to achieve, there is definitely pressure about it."
Gill confirmed that Abhishek Sharma, who was in sensational form for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024, will open the innings with him in the five-match T20I series.
"Abhishek Sharma will open with me and Ruturaj Gaikwad will bat at number 3," he said.
Gill had led the Gujarat Titans in the IPL after Hardik Pandya took over the captaincy of the Mumbai Indians.
Gill relied on that experience in Zimbabwe.
"I learned a lot of lessons when I captained my IPL team for the first time. I learned a lot more things about myself and a lot more things about leadership perspective," he said.
"I felt like most of the challenges you face as a captain are more mental, how you prepare the guys. "Everyone has the skill set, it's about how you can give them (other players) the confidence to be able to develop that skill set. in the countryside."
Gill said the young Indian team will gain a lot of experience and get much-needed exposure to international cricket during the series against Zimbabwe.
"If you look at the team, it is quite different from the one that played in the World Cup. There are a lot of young players in the team, including myself.
"We just want to give the players experience and what it's like to play at international level because a lot of the players haven't played that many games and some haven't even made their debut.
"I think our goal with the series is to give them more international exposure and experience."
Talking about Zimbabwe, Gill said: "I think you guys have a good T20 team. Even the last time we played in the one-day matches... the last day we played was quite close. .
"We know it will be no different. The way you will confront us will be no different than any other nation and that is the challenge for us," he concluded.
