Shubman Gill takes personal net bowlers to New Zealand at his own expense
Gill arranges and funds his own net bowlers to gain specialized red-ball preparation for the New Zealand Test series.
India Test captain Shubman Gill will take four to five personal net bowlers on the upcoming tour of New Zealand, paying for their expenses himself to prepare for the red-ball challenge. The dedicated bowlers will train exclusively with Gill, a move not previously made by an Indian cricketer.
Gill is expected to leave for New Zealand on October 23 or 24 and will skip the India A Test matches against New Zealand A due to his ODI commitments. He is also set to turn up for Punjab in their Ranji Trophy fixture against Chhattisgarh, which begins on October 18 in Mullanpur.
The 26-year-old faces a challenging assignment in New Zealand, where conditions are expected to test his technique and temperament ahead of the two-Test series that begins on November 19.
CricHubb Take
Gill's willingness to pay for extra preparation signals that he views the New Zealand Tests as a personal benchmark rather than just another series on the calendar.