Ravi Shastri exposes Dinesh Karthik for bootlicking Shubman Gill after releasing him from KKR

Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri took a cheeky dig at former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Dinesh Karthik for releasing Shubman Gill before the 2022 IPL mega auction. Karthik stated that he had no role in that call, as he had been released by Kolkata ahead of the same auction.

Shubman Gill was bought by the Knight Riders for ₹1.8 crore during the 2018 IPL auction. The right-handed batter played for the Kolkata team until 2021 before being released ahead of the 2022 mega auction. Following his release, Gill joined the Gujarat Titans (GT) and is currently the captain of the franchise.

I Met Him When He Got Picked for KKR - Dinesh Karthik on Shubman Gill

During a Sky Sports discussion with Ravi Shastri, Nasser Hussain, and Michael Atherton, Dinesh Karthik spoke about Shubman Gill’s early days at Kolkata Knight Riders. Karthik recalled that Gill was slotted lower down the order at No. 6 or 7, but he never showed any frustration.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

"The first time I met him was when he got picked for KKR. I was leading sadly. He came in as an opening batter, but he couldn't fit it at No. 3. So, he batted at No. 6 and 7. It wasn't customized for him, but not once did he frown," Karthik said.

"The next year, we didn't start well. So, one day he walked up to be and said, 'DK bhai I think it's time I can open now'. For me it was a bit of a revelation, a young boy coming and saying, 'I think I am ready'. The first game he got the opportunity, he got [a big score]," he added.

Also Read: Shubman Gill accused of 'criminal offence' in England

Then Dinesh Karthik Released Shubman Gill the Next Year - Ravi Shastri

Reacting to Karthik’s comment, Ravi Shastri made a witty remark. Ravi Shastri joked that despite everything Karthik had just said about promoting Gill as an opener, he ended up releasing him the following year.

"By the way, DK said all this, opening the innings, and then he released him next year," Ravi Shastri cheekily quipped.

Another day of thanking KKR management for releasing Shubman Gill, so GT could get him. 😂❤️❤️pic.twitter.com/bxMtRmpYZZ

— Ahmed Says (@AhmedGT_) July 7, 2025

Karthik clarified that he had no role in the decision to release Shubman Gill. The former wicketkeeper-batter had led KKR in the 2018 and 2019 IPL seasons but was replaced by Eoin Morgan as captain midway through the 2020 campaign due to a string of underwhelming performances.

Shubman Gill Played for the Kolkata Knight Riders from 2018 to 2021

Shubman Gill represented Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL from 2018 to 2021. He scored 1,417 runs in 58 matches at an average of 31.48 and a strike rate of 123, including 10 half-centuries and a top score of 76.

The 25-year-old is currently in remarkable form in the ongoing Test series against England. After scoring 147 in the first Test at Headingley, Gill smashed 269 and 161 in the two innings during the second Test at Edgbaston.

Gill also became the first player in Test history to record a 250-plus and 150-plus score in the same game. He guided India to a 336-run victory - their first-ever Test win at Edgbaston and their biggest away win by runs.

Also read: Yash Dayal Sexual Harassment Case- FIR filed against RCB Star, Sex Exploitation registered