‘If I think only about selection, I am doing…’: Shubman Gill says playing in T20 World Cup ‘huge’ | – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Representing India in the T20 World Cup is undoubtedly a monumental honour, but for Gujarat Titans‘ captain Shubman Gill, maintaining focus on his team’s success takes precedence over national selection aspirations.
Despite his stellar performance, amassing 890 runs in IPL 2023 and securing a spot among the top-10 batters presently, Gill remains steadfast in his commitment to his team’s cause.The 24-year-old believes that allowing thoughts of national selection to occupy his mind would be unfair both to himself and his team. Instead, he sees any potential selection as another opportunity to pursue glory on the international stage.
However, Gill acknowledges that if he isn’t chosen, he’ll wholeheartedly support the selected 15, wishing them the very best in their endeavours. His dedication to his team’s success and his humility in accepting outcomes reflect his maturity and professionalism as a cricketer.
“Playing for India is the biggest thing. But if I start thinking about the World Cup, then I will be doing injustice to my current team (GT) and myself.
“If I have to be picked for the T20 World Cup, I will be picked. But right now, my focus is on IPL and how to get the best out of my team and perform the best for my team which also helps my players,” Gill told PTI in an interview.
While appearing in a World Cup is undoubtedly a dream for any player, Gill is learning the art of controlling the controllables. Understanding that some factors, such as national selection, may be beyond his immediate influence, Gill focuses on aspects within his control.
“Obviously as a player, I want to be there and play the World Cup and get that opportunity to represent my country at the highest level – the biggest stage of T20 cricket.
“Having played in a World Cup last year, I have had my share of experiences, and it would be great to be able to play another World Cup. But I am not thinking that far ahead,” he added.
But he didn’t forget to mention – ever so subtly – that he has a body of performance built over two seasons.
“I have scored almost 900 runs last season and if I had to be picked, I will be picked if not (then) best of luck to those who are picked,” Gill said.

‘Captaincy has taught me new things’

Captaining Titans is Gill’s first tryst with leadership and perhaps through its prism, he is also learning more about ‘Shubman-The Human’.
“It’s now exactly one month and its (captaincy) been good for me. I have learnt a lot of new things about myself, and about the team, which has been very interesting so far,” he said.
When asked to elaborate, he spoke about how trust is a two-way street built on shared vulnerabilities of the leader and his contingent.
“When you are just a player you are just thinking in terms of how you can help the team in terms of batting and fielding but when you are the captain, you also need to find a way to get the best out of players.
“I need to gain their trust in order to get the best out of them, I need to show my vulnerability so that they can show theirs and you are always thinking more about others than yourself. You become more giving, feel good about yourself,” he said.

‘GT’s legacy is created by Nehra’

Leading a side after two exceptional seasons, where the team played back-to-back finals under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy, poses its own set of challenges. Winning the inaugural season in 2022 and finishing as runners-up last year have set high expectations for the team and its leader.
So, does it become difficult to create his own footprints in a space created by Hardik and how does head coach Ashish Nehra help him ease into the role?
His answer was an interesting one.
“I think in that legacy that Gujarat Titans built, Ashish Nehra had more of a role to play,” pat came the reply.
“Obviously, under Hardik bhai, this team had nothing but success, but I am not thinking about what’s gone in the last couple of seasons because that’s history.
“What my focus is right now is how we can get into the play off and in the play-off, it’s then just about one match.
“And we are a team that experienced success and know how to play big matches and be a better team in pressure situations,” he sounded hopeful of GT’s play-off qualification.

‘Success boosts ego, failure is main teacher’

It has been a steady rise to stardom for the ‘Crown Prince’ of Indian batting, who is expected to carry the mantle once leading light Virat Kohli decides to hang his boots.
How does he look at fame and success?
“Success very much defines who you are but it doesn’t teach you anything. Success can merely boost your ego and it’s your failures that teach you and you need that in order to grow,” he concluded.
(With PTI inputs)

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