Shubman Gill pays for personal net bowlers on New Zealand tour

India Test captain Shubman Gill is funding four to five net bowlers of his own for the New Zealand tour so they can work only with him. The move is the first of its kind by an Indian player, as PTI reported. Gill is due to fly out on October 23 or 24 after he plays for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy match against Chhattisgarh that begins on October 18 in Mullanpur.

New Zealand travel is costly, yet Gill is willing to meet the extra expense because he wants targeted red-ball work in conditions very different from the subcontinent. The BCCI already covers net bowlers, but Gill has pushed for extra practice sessions and practice matches to improve Test preparation.

He will lead the first three ODIs of the five-match series before handing the side to Shreyas Iyer for the last two. Ravindra Jadeja is absent from both squads and Kumar Kushagra has received his first call-up for the final two games.