ENG vs IND 2025: 'You’ve become a lot more busy' - Kevin Pietersen reveals mid-IPL interaction with Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill is receiving massive praise from the cricket fraternity after his heroics in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. He was appointed as the captain of India's Test team ahead of the England tour, and he has made a fantastic impression in his first two matches in the new role.

Shubman has slammed 585 runs in four innings at an average of 146.25 on the England tour so far. Last week, he led India to their first-ever Test win at Edgbaston after the Asian giants had lost seven Tests and drawn one at the iconic venue since 1967.

Former England batter Kevin Pietersen, who was the mentor of Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, recalled his conversation with Gujarat Titans captain Shubman during the 10-team tournament. The cricketer-turned-commentator told him that he has become busier at the crease than before, and is moving his feet actively.

"He’s become busy at the crease. I remember being a little bit critical of him a few years ago when he was playing for KKR — saying in commentary that he looked lazy and a bit slow at the wicket. But now he’s much busier. He’s become better. I actually said that to him during the IPL — I told him, 'You’ve become a lot more busy, and I really like how active your feet are. I like how committed you are, both on the front foot and the back foot," Pietersen said.

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Pietersen praised Shubman's pull shot and called him an "absolute star". The former cricketer also recollected that he had stuck his neck out and urged the Indian team management to back the Punjab batter when he wasn't scoring too many runs earlier in his Test career.

"The pull shot he’s playing right now is just great. He’s an absolute star. And honestly, I’m grateful — because I put my head on the block a few years ago when I said, ‘Please leave Shubman alone — he’s a quality player’ — even when he wasn’t scoring runs. So luckily, he’s come good," he added.