'This is how greatness is built': Pathan backs Gill to follow Kohli's path

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has publically backed Shubman Gill, linking the young batter’s accelerated emergence to a acquisition helium received aboriginal successful his ain planetary vocation from Rahul Dravid. Speaking connected JioHotstar, Pathan recalled however Dravid prepared him for the demands of planetary cricket erstwhile helium broke into the Indian squad arsenic a teenager.

“When I entered the Indian squad astatine the property of 19, the large Rahul Dravid told maine that you person travel to the team, it is good, but the things would get tougher from here. I asked what to bash successful lawsuit things get tough. He told maine you would get utilized to it,” Pathan said. Pathan believes the aforesaid process of accommodation and maturation present applies to Gill, peculiarly aft being handed enactment responsibilities astatine a young age. “Same tin beryllium said for Gill. He became captain, successful that England series, helium accrued his mean and authorization wrong the team.

Then helium got the ODI captaincy, erstwhile that happens, you get an accidental to turn a lot,” helium added. Gill’s 2025 began steadily successful the ODI format, with accordant returns successful bilateral bid earlier playing a cardinal relation successful India’s ICC Champions Trophy triumph. He finished the tourney with 188 runs, highlighted by a period against Bangladesh. The defining signifier of Gill’s year, however, came during his archetypal afloat Test circuit of England. With

Rohit Sharma

,

Virat Kohli

and

Ravichandran Ashwin

unavailable, the load of enactment fell heavy connected the young Test captain.

Gill responded with a historical series, scoring 754 runs successful 5 Tests astatine an mean of 75.40, including 4 centuries and a career-best 269. Pathan besides addressed the value of comparisons that travel elite Indian batters crossed generations. “He has a batch of talent. There volition beryllium ever comparisons. Virat was compared with Sachin (Tendulkar), and present Gill is being compared to Virat, who has scored those 25,000–30,000 runs.

I deliberation helium is afloat susceptible of it. He has a good scope of shots,” Pathan said. Gill’s lone notable setback came successful T20 internationals, wherever a tally of humble returns saw him people 291 runs successful 15 innings astatine an mean conscionable implicit 24 successful 2025, yet missing retired connected enactment for India’s T20 World Cup squad. Pathan views that signifier arsenic portion of a broader learning curve. “The much work and challenges helium gets, helium volition turn much arsenic a cricketer. I person seen that helium is ever acceptable for cricket. Always consenting to learn. He has that cognition successful him,” helium said.