In the wake of India’s commanding 70-run victory over New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final, opener Shubman Gill credited his stellar performance to the unwavering “hunger” exhibited by Virat Kohli on the field. Gill, who played a crucial role with his unbeaten 80, expressed admiration for Kohli’s consistency and intensity over the past decade.
India’s formidable total of 397-4 was anchored by Kohli’s record-breaking 117, marking his 50th one-day international hundred, surpassing the previous record shared with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. Shreyas Iyer also contributed significantly with a rapid 105.
Gill, reflecting on his partnership with Kohli, noted, “Every time he comes on to the park, he does something special and just how consistently he’s been able to do it for the past 10-15 years is what is really inspiring.”
The 24-year-old Gill, a Junior World Cup winner, praised his opening partner Rohit Sharma, emphasizing the complementary nature of their playing styles. He shared insights into their partnership, stating, “My role is just to play my game in the powerplay. Look for good shots, look for good boundaries and then once the powerplay’s over, I can rotate the strike.”
Despite his outstanding contribution, Gill revealed that cramps and a pulled hamstring forced him to retire hurt, lamenting, “If I didn’t get cramp, maybe I would have scored a hundred.” Nevertheless, he reassured fans that he would be fit for Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad, where India will face either Australia or South Africa.
Gill acknowledged the challenge of facing India’s formidable bowlers, including Mohammed Shami, who returned impressive figures of 7-57 in the semi-final. He highlighted the difficulty of practicing against Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj, emphasizing the competitiveness even in the net sessions.
