Sanjay Manjrekar says Shubman Gill’s father would know more about his son’s traits

Manjrekar said that Lakhwinder Gill would know if Shubman has traits of Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni.

Lakhwinder Gill, Shubman Gill’s father, has played a pivotal role in his son’s journey. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar feels Lakhwinder would know more if his son has traits of Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni.

Sanjay Manjrekar says Lakhwinder always backed Shubman.

Sanjay Manjrekar believes that Lakhwinder Gill, an aspiring cricketer-turned-farmer, always had Shubman’s back, which is one of the major reasons for the latter’s rise in the India team. Manjrekar is certain that Gill is not naturally as aggressive as Virat Kohli. He said on ESPNCricinfo, “If Shubman Gill had that kind of a fiery side to him, we would have seen it a little earlier. You don’t have to show it when you’re the captain. Or did he show it because he’s got this confidence now that he’s won a Test match, and he’s got so many runs? Because with Virat Kohli, you could see that he was ready for a scrap. He was always waiting to get in the thick of things. Even when he wasn’t a captain, you could see him coming in there. So that was a trait that we’d seen even before he was captain. With Shubman Gill, I’ve never seen it before.”

“His father played a big part.”

Australia great and former India head coach Greg Chappell said Shubman Gill will face his toughest test in Manchester. This is where Manjrekar feels that Gill’s father will become very important because he knows whether Gill has more shades of Virat Kohli, the aggressor, or that of MS Dhoni. He said, “There are a lot of good people around him. His father [who played a big part as he grew up pursuing a career in cricket], in fact, would know him, would know his child, whether he’s a Virat Kohli, potential Virat Kohli, or [MS] Dhoni or somewhere in between. I’m guessing somewhere in between. So he’s got to find his own way. But whatever way that is, it’s got to be a way that will enhance his leadership qualities and make him a better batter.”