"We realised this boy was special…"- Sanjay Bangar reveals how Shubman Gill astonished Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Ravi Shastri during his first net session

Sanjay Bangar shared interesting story of Shubman Gill’s first net session in 2019.

Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has revealed an interesting story about Shubman Gill‘s first net session. Bangar revealed how the young batter stunned Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Ravi Shastri during his first net session in 2019.

Shubman Gill’s growth in international cricket has been staggering. After his incredible performances for India across the formats over the last few years, he was appointed as the new test captain of India in May.

The right-handed batsman lived up to the expectations and gave an incredible batting performance in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, smacking 754 runs in five tests with four tons. Moreover, he also led the team to a 2-2 draw in the five-match test series against England.

Gill is now gearing up for Asia Cup 2025, where he has been named as vice-captain of the side. The 25-year-old made his international debut in 2019 during the ODI series against New Zealand. He made his debut when Virat Kohli left home due to personal reasons.

He couldn’t make an impact during that series, but after that came up with sensational efforts and cemented his place in the national team across all three formats.

We realised then that this boy was special: Sanjay Bangar shares story of Shubman Gill’s first net session

During a chat on Doordarshan Sports, Bangar shared how Gill impressed everyone during his first net session in 2019, when the team was preparing for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

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

“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),” he added.

Bangar also revealed Kohli and Shastri’s comments after witnessing Gill’s batting. Shastri wanted to play Gill in the Indian team right away.

“I saw him bat in the nets and I was like wow, I was not even ten per cent of that when I was 19′, Kohli had said. 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 realised then that this boy was special,” he added.

Meanwhile, Gill is expected to play as an opener for India in the Asia Cup 2025. The tournament will commence on September 9 in the UAE, and India will play their first match against the UAE on September 10 in Dubai. Suryakumar Yadav will lead India in the tournament, who are also the defending champions.

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