Virat Kohli has been my idol since I started understanding cricket: Shubman Gill

Gujarat Titans' (GT) opener Shubman Gill added another feather to his cap on Monday, May 15, during the 62nd match of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The youngster struck his maiden IPL ton and helped GT to post 188 runs in 20 overs. He scored 101 off 58 deliveries, including 13 boundaries and a maximum.

Gill's effort carried the GT innings, which had been shredded by veteran SRH bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The young batter stayed until the final over, assisting his team in setting a befitting target for the visitors. In reply, the Aiden Markram-led side were restricted to 154 after Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma each grabbed four wickets.

After scoring a blazing hundred, Gill emerged as the Player of the Match and became a contender of the IPL 2023 Orange Cap. While speaking with Star Sports after the game, the young batter said that Virat Kohli inspires him and that he has admired him since childhood. He went on to say that the former India captain's batting, passion, and commitment are exactly what motivate him.

“When I was 12-13 years old I followed Virat Kohli bhai the most, he has been my idol since I started understanding cricket. I learned a lot from Virat bhai. His batting & passion & commitment motivates me,” Gill told Star Sports.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar finishes with 5/30 in four overs

Apart from Gill, Sai Sudharsan also provided a significant contribution for the defending champions, scoring a 36-ball 47 with six fours and a six. However, he was removed by all-rounder Marco Jansen, ending a 147-run partnership with Gill, and GT's middle and bottom order collapsed quickly. Notably, nine of the eleven batters scored in single digits, with four of them getting out without scoring a run.

However, Gill led the charge for the Titans, reaching his century in 56 balls with a single in the 19th over. Gill, though, surrendered in the first ball of the final over, caught by Abdul Samad off Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Bhuvneshwar finished with figures of 5/30 in his four-over spell, dismissing opener Saha, Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, and Gill.