Sanjay Bangar, the former batting coach of India, recently shared insights on how Shubman Gill captured the attention of former head coach Ravi Shastri during the team's customary "screen test," which ultimately secured his position in the squad. Gill, who made his international debut during the 2019 tour of New Zealand, has made significant strides in his career over the past six years, culminating in his recent appointment as vice-captain for the upcoming Champions Trophy at the age of 25.

Although Gill's debut in New Zealand was not particularly noteworthy, with scores of 9 and 7 in the two ODIs he participated in, Bangar recalled his initial net session with the Indian team vividly. He explained that every player aspiring to join the national team must undergo a traditional screen test, where batters specifically face throwdowns. During this session, an 18-year-old Gill left a lasting impression on Shastri, who was thoroughly impressed by his performance.

Bangar remarked, "The first impression we had of Shubman Gill during his inaugural net session for India was remarkable. There is a tradition in India that players seeking approval must excel against throwdown specialists, who deliver the ball at high speeds. Gill's performance in that session was so striking that Ravi Shastri was left in awe, stating, 'ek taiyaar player mil gaya humein (We’ve got someone who’s ready for international cricket).' His impact was truly significant."

Gill gears up for Champions Trophy

Concerns regarding Gill's performance arose when BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar appointed him as the new vice-captain for the Indian ODI team, particularly following a disappointing tour of Australia where he managed only 93 runs across four Tests. Nevertheless, the right-handed batsman justified this decision on Thursday by delivering a match-winning innings of 87 runs off 96 balls against England in the first ODI of the three-match series held in Nagpur.

In a media interaction in January, Agarkar elaborated that the selection committee's choice of Gill over all-rounder Hardik Pandya as Rohit's deputy was influenced by feedback from the dressing room and his demonstrated leadership qualities.

“Shubman had already served as vice-captain in Sri Lanka, so I wouldn’t overanalyze this decision. Much of the feedback is derived from the dressing room environment. It is also important to keep options available. One of the challenges we face is that not many players are leading their state teams these days… however, we are consistently on the lookout for individuals who exhibit leadership potential," he stated.

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