Gill pays for five personal net bowlers ahead of New Zealand Test series
India Test captain Gill arranges and pays for his own net bowlers to prepare for the New Zealand Test series.
Shubman Gill will take four to five personal net bowlers on India's tour of New Zealand at his own expense. The BCCI already provides net bowlers for the squad, but this is the first time an Indian player has arranged dedicated bowlers exclusively for himself. Gill leaves for New Zealand on October 23 or 24 and will miss the India A Tests against New Zealand A.
The 26-year-old scored 754 runs in the five-Test series in England earlier this year. He faces a challenging assignment in New Zealand where conditions are expected to test his technique. Gill will play a warm-up Ranji Trophy match for Punjab against Chhattisgarh from October 18 to gain red-ball practice before the tour.
He will not feature in the India A Tests because of his ODI commitments.
CricHubb Take
Gill's decision shows he does not trust the standard preparation routine. Paying out of his own pocket signals he believes the next two Tests will decide whether he keeps the captaincy long-term.