There is no doubt that Shubman Gill is inspired by Virat Kohli: India's conditioning coach Ankit Kaliyar

Ankit Kaliyar, India’s strength and conditioning coach, remarked that Shubman Gill was heavily influenced by his teammate and star veteran batter Virat Kohli while commending the young batter's fitness.

Gill invariably emulates Kohli's batting style and has been taking a lot of inspiration from the veteran batter in terms of fitness, according to Kaliyar. The coach also stated that the 24-year-old batter has a promising career ahead of him.

“Shubman Gill is very fit. Not just fit, he is a very skilful player. There is no doubt that Shubman is inspired by Virat bhai. Be it batting, fitness, or skill, Shubman is following Virat bhai. I am sure Shubman will be doing well for the country in the coming years," Kaliyar was quoted as saying by Times of India.

Furthermore, the coach went on to call Kohli as the most physically fit athlete globally. Besides, Kaliyar also praised the former Indian captain for instilling a rigorous fitness regimen and culture within the team. Moreover, he also lauded his strict fitness schedule for remaining in his lean physique over the years.

“Virat Kohli is the fittest player in the Indian team and the world. The reason behind that is that he’s following a strict schedule," Kaliyar concluded.

Kohli, Gill had excellent ODI World Cup campaign

Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill showcased exceptional performances in the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, playing pivotal roles in guiding Team India to the tournament final. Kohli emerged as the leading run-scorer with a remarkable tally of 765 runs from 11 games, including three centuries, boasting an impressive average of 95.62 and a strike rate of 90.31. On the other hand, Gill contributed significantly with 354 runs in nine games, maintaining an average of 44.25 and an impressive strike rate of 106.94.

Following their outstanding World Cup campaign, both players opted for a break during India's subsequent T20I series against Australia. While Gill is set to participate in both the T20I and two-match Test series during India's tour of South Africa, Kohli will be making his return to the Test series.