Sanjay Bangar recalls the day Shastri, Kohli, Dhoni tipped Shubman Gill as future superstar

Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar recently recalled the moment when Shubman Gill first walked into the national team’s nets in 2019 and left everyone stunned with his talent, including then head coach Ravi Shastri, captain Virat Kohli, and iconic MS Dhoni.

Shubman Gill was handed his maiden India call-up for the ODI series in New Zealand, just months before the 2019 World Cup, and his first session with the senior team quickly turned into a memorable outing. Bangar, who was the batting coach at the time, said that session had already confirmed that Gill was no ordinary player.

Sanjay Bangar recalls Shubman Gill's magical moment

When Shubman Gill stepped out to face the sidearm throwers, everyone expected a decent performance from the young debutant, but he left everyone in awe with his incredible hitting. Bangar explained how Gill adjusted to every ball with exceptional skill and ease.

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Gill drove the full deliveries elegantly, showing classical technique and timing. Balls pitched slightly outside off-stump were cut with precision, while short balls were pulled cleanly. His ability to read the deliveries and adapt instantly made him look like an experienced campaigner.

Shubman Gill’s debut net session leaves Ravi Shastri, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni amazed

Sanjay Bangar said on Doordarshan Sports, “It was his first session, and he walked out to bat in the nets. Ravi Shastri was the head coach, the captain was Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni was still in the team. We were preparing for the 2019 ODI World Cup. The sidearm throwers and I started to bowl at Shubman. When we pitched it up, he would play the drive.”

The former RCB coach further added, “Thoda sa off-stump ke bahar hai toh cut maare. Thoda sa short de do toh pull maare. Dusra net band ho gaya, inka hi net chal raha, and sab dekh rahe hai ki ye kya hai. (If the ball was a little outside off-stump, he cut it. If it was slightly short, he pulled it. The other nets stopped; only his net was going on, and everyone was watching in amazement—wondering what this was.”

When Ravi Shastri wanted him in the Playing XI immediately after the first net session

Bangar revealed that Ravi Shastri, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni were left mesmerized by the right-handed batter’s performance, composure, timing, and elegance. The former batting coach said that Shastri instantly decided to hand Gill the debut cap after that session.

He signed off by saying, “Coach Ravi Shastri was so impressed that he wanted to put him in the playing XI. ‘Isko abhi khila do’ (Play him now). He left that kind of imprint in his first net session itself, and we realized then that this boy was special.”

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Notably, Shubman Gill made his debut in the fourth ODI against New Zealand, but he failed to make an impact, scoring just 9 and 7 in the two matches on the tour. Despite the slow beginning, he worked hard and started showing his true colors in 2022.

He now has 2775 runs in 55 ODIs to his name so far. Gill has now become India’s Test captain and vice-captain of the white-ball teams. The Punjab lad is expected to become the ODI captain once Rohit Sharma retires from international cricket, most probably on the Australia tour next month.