'Ravi Shastri was impressed with...'- Former India coach's jaw-dropping revelation of this player ahead of Asia Cup 2025

The former Indian batting coach, Sanjay Bangar, has made a stunning revelation on the current vice-captain of the T20I side, Shubman Gill, for the Asia Cup 2025 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Gill impressed the former head coach, Ravi Shastri, and captain, Virat Kohli, during a net session as he became a household name after the 2018 Under-19 World Cup.

Gill came into the Blue Brigade during the 2019 away New Zealand ODI series before the right-handed batter made his Test debut against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020/21 down under. Bangar recalled the first glimpse of the Punjab-born in the nets.

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“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. 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.” Bangar, the former coach, expressed to Doordarshan as quoted by TOI.

Sanjay Bangar recalls first glimpse of Shubman Gill at net session

Gill has overall smashed 2647 runs in 69 innings in Tests at an average of 41.35 with nine centuries and seven half-centuries. Out of these, 750+ runs came in his first series as red-ball captain with four centuries. In ODIs, he has 2775 runs in 55 innings at an average of 59.04 with eight centuries and 15 fifties.

“The side-arm throwers and I started to bowl at Shubman. When we pitched it up, he would play the drive. 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.” Bangar addressed.

Gill is expected to open the batting with Abhishek Sharma for India during the Asia Cup 2025. They will open their campaign on September 10 against the United Arab Emirates at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium before the most anticipated clash against Pakistan four days later.