Shubman Gill urged to adopt Kohli’s team-first mindset: is batting order secondary?

Cricket analyst Aakash Chopra has urged young Indian batsman Shubman Gill to embrace a team-first approach inspired by former captain Virat Kohli, rather than focusing solely on his batting position.

Chopra emphasized that "batting position isn’t about copying someone—it’s about where you fit in the team and how it benefits the side." He encouraged Gill to adopt Kohli’s mindset of making sacrifices for the team, even if it means adjusting his role or batting order.

Virat Kohli, who stepped down as captain in 2022, remains India’s most successful Test captain with 40 wins and 17 losses in 68 matches. His leadership style prioritized team balance and strategic flexibility, often playing with an extra bowler to strengthen the side.

In contrast, Shubman Gill, at 25, has struggled to find consistent form in the red-ball format. Over 32 Tests, he has scored 1,893 runs with five centuries at an average of 35. Chopra’s advice suggests that Gill’s growth as a player may depend more on adopting a selfless, team-oriented mindset than on his specific batting slot.

This perspective challenges the common fixation on batting order, highlighting that a player’s contribution to the team’s overall strategy and success is paramount. Chopra’s call for Gill to learn from Kohli’s example underscores the importance of leadership qualities and adaptability in international cricket.

Cricket expert Aakash Chopra urges Shubman Gill to adopt Virat Kohli’s team-first mindset, emphasizing the importance of fitting into the team over batting order. Despite Gill’s inconsistency in Tests, Chopra highlights Kohli’s leadership sacrifices and success as a model for Gill’s growth.