Gujarat Titans (GT) coach Gary Kirsten praised new club captain and Indian batter Shubman Gill, calling him someone who wants to continue learning and refining his game.
Gill was chosen the new Gujarat Titans captain after all-rounder Hardik Pandya was moved to his original Indian Premier League (IPL) side, the Mumbai Indians. The former had a phenomenal IPL 2023 season, scoring 890 runs in 17 matches at an average of 59.33 and a strike rate of 157.80, including three hundreds and four fifties.
The Print cited Gary Kirsten as praising the new GT captain in an interview with PTI-Bhasha, Gary Kirsten said:
“Shubman is one of the best players. 900 plus runs in the last IPL season, not many can do that…I just love the way he wants to keep growing and developing his game. Looking forward to having him as a captain. He is a smart guy and will enjoy his captaincy.”
Gary Kirsten
However, when asked if he was open to coaching Team India again, the 56-year-old said simply.
“I come to India every year and I love it. I am about to go for my eighth IPL season and I enjoy working with the Gujarat Titans. Ashish Nehra (head coach) is a close mate and we just enjoy working in that Cricket environment together. Vikram Solanki (Director of Cricket) is also there. It would be a great honour to be offered a job at the national level but I am not sure about that. But yes, I always enjoy going back to India (for IPL).”
Gary Kirsten
Gujarat Titans finished second in the IPL 2023, losing to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the final in Ahmedabad in a last-ball thriller.
Shubman Gill roars back to form with third Test hundred in 2nd IND vs ENG Test
Gujarat Titans’ leader Gill is no doubt happy to be back in his batting stride. A series of modest runs made way for a graceful 104 from 147 pitches during the second innings of the Visakhapatnam Test. With this, England was bested by a 106-point margin by the home team.
Gill, who was removed for 34 in the first innings, kept the hosts going in the second innings after James Anderson knocked the Indian openers cheaply. The right-handed hitter hit 11 fours and two sixes in his performance, as he and Axar Patel added 89 runs for the fifth wicket.
India set England a target of 399 runs and knocked them out for 292 in 69.2 overs.