New Delhi: India won the three-match series against New Zealand to claim the number one spot in the ICC ODI team rankings. Shubman Gill was named the Player of the Series for 360 runs in three games, including a double ton and a century. And what could be a better follow-up than being interviewed by coach Rahul Dravid to mark the occasion?
3⃣6⃣0⃣ runs in three matches ?@ShubmanGill becomes the Player of the Series for his sensational performance with the bat, including a double-hundred in the #INDvNZ ODI series??
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/ojTz5RqWZf…@mastercardindia pic.twitter.com/77HJHLgJoL
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 24, 2023
BCCI shared a candid chat between Dravid and Gill, where they discussed the latter’s batting and relationship with his father. Dravid began the conversation by mentioning that when Shubman was scoring in fifties and sixties, his father asked him, ‘Will you only show us these drizzles or go on to show some thunderstorms?’. Replying to the same, Shubman said that his father will not be happy with his last game as he would have wanted him to carry on.
Motivation from father, joy of batting with captain @ImRo45 & @imVkohli and special bond with Head Coach ☺️ ?
Man of the moment, @ShubmanGill, shares it all in this interview with Rahul Dravid ? ? – By @ameyatilak
Full feature ? #TeamIndia | #INDvNZhttps://t.co/sAOk7VUGMk pic.twitter.com/z6kza58nB5
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 25, 2023
Talking about scoring three hundreds in the last six games, Gill said that he enjoys batting in this format as it gives him time to settle in the start and then express himself. He added that after Ishan Kishan scored a double century, he was not sure if he will be playing the game against Sri Lanka, but he thanked Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma for showing confidence in him.
Shubman went on to ask Dravid about how he thinks his game has changed in the last few years, replying to which he mentioned Gill’s hunger and maturity to score. He added that the way Gill fielded and took those slip catches tells that something is ‘clicking’ and that is remarkable.
Talking about batting with Rohit and Virat Kohli, Gill said that he has grown up watching them and admired them. He mentioned that when Rohit was in his 70s, he walked to him and said, ‘Daryl Mitchell looks like he will get me out but I will still go after him.’
In the end, Gill asked Dravid about the feeling of entering a dressing room with his name on it. Dravid answered that he feels grateful for the love and it is a privilege to play cricket in India.
Shubman Gill scored 208 off 149 in the first ODI to become only the seventh player to score an ODI double ton. Chasing a small total in the second inning, he contributed with 40*(53) and then went on to score another hundred in a high-scoring third ODI. In this series, he had a stunning average of 180 and has set the tone for India’s campaign for the 2023 World Cup.
