Aggression not for everyone: Shubman Gill needs his own voice, not mimic Virat Kohli

India Today

15-07-2025

It would not be far-fetched to suggest that Shubman Gill may be trying to mimic certain aspects of Virat Kohli. Since being appointed Test skipper, he has moved to the No. 4 slot where, notably, some of his best knocks in the ongoing England series have come.There have been moments when Gill has shown glimpses of Kohli-esque behaviour. One such instance was his celebration at Edgbaston the roar, the celebration strikingly similar to Kohli's century celebration at the same venue in 2018.advertisement
This may be a hot take, but the only reason to suggest Gill isn't actively trying to replicate Kohli is that his game might be suffering as a result. Yes, it's entertaining to be the one dishing it out, but when you're on the receiving end of verbal jabs, it's a different game altogether. That's what made Kohli so great: he thrived in the fire. But that style isn't for everyone, and perhaps not for Gill.Before his first Test as captain, Gill had stated that he didn't want to copy anyone's style, instead focusing on being his own man. But is that truly the case?Gill has certainly been more confrontational, a shift from the composed figure we've seen over most of his career. This change should serve as a wake-up call. Opposition players, as Ben Stokes demonstrated on the final day at Lord's, are more than happy to return the favour.Even the great Virender Sehwag, one of India's finest batters, initially struggled with trying to model himself after Sachin Tendulkar. But once he embraced his own identity, he flourished. The parallels for Gill are clear — and perhaps instructive.GILL'S HOSTILE TACTICS BACKFIRED? Former cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Mohammad Kaif, in hindsight, both suggested that Gill's approach — especially his verbal duel with Zak Crawley on Day 3 — might have worked against him.'Gill suddenly looking tentative last evening had a lot to do with the hostility he got at the crease from England. Virat performed better, the angrier he got. Dhoni is the exact opposite. Gill must decide what gets the best out of him as a batter — calmness or anger,' Manjrekar posted on X.'Shubman Gill's fight with Zak Crawley charged England. After Edgbaston, there were questions about their batting, bowling and captaincy. But that incident fired up Stokes, and he bowled an inspiring spell. It is wise to stick to the attitude that works for you. Gill will learn this the hard way,' Kaif echoed.'What would have fired him up in this game was the Indian team targeting Zak Crawley in that one over,' Broad said on Sky Sports Cricket. 'It was great fun, brilliant to watch, but he wouldn't have liked the fact that one of his players was out there alone, with just Ben Duckett for company, and the team going at him'. advertisementGill however, defended himself and suggested that those few minutes of play cannot determine an entire Test match. Instead he pointed out other moments that could have turned the result in their favour. 'No, five minutes can't define five days of hard work. If you ask me about key moments, that wouldn't even be in my top five. For us, Rishabh's run-out was more crucial. At one point, we felt we could get a 50–100 run lead, which would've been massive on Day 5 when batting gets tough. That was a big turning point," Gill said at the post-match press conference. Only time will tell if Gill can carve out his own identity as a Test captain. Since taking over, he has looked eager to take England head-on a trait that could either define or derail this early chapter of his leadership.With two Tests still to play, Gill has the chance to quiet his critics, including me. A series win would put many of these concerns to rest. One thing, however, is clear: this Indian Test team is full of fighters. The challenge for Gill is not to become someone else, but to channel that fight in a way that stays true to who he really is.- EndsTune InMust Watch