Image: Social media erupts as Virat Kohli praises Shubman Gill leadership and relaxed captaincy style / © Hindustan Times
In the first ODI against West Indies, India chased down 296 with 8 wickets in hand in Thiruvananthapuram. Shubman Gill made 110, while Virat Kohli finished unbeaten on 139. The 2 batters put together 151 for the 2nd wicket after Rohit Sharma was out for 32. It was also their 5th century partnership in ODI cricket. After the match, Kohli spoke about the atmosphere in the Indian dressing room under Gill.
He said the senior players have been able to stay relaxed and enjoy themselves. There has been plenty of laughter between the players, something Kohli believes helps everyone feel comfortable. He also pointed out that being relaxed does not mean taking the game lightly. Players can have fun and still remain focused when the pressure is high. For Kohli, the game also added another major record to his name.
His unbeaten 139 was his 55th ODI century and took him to 15,000 ODI runs. He reached the mark in 303 innings, going past Sachin Tendulkar’s previous record of 377 innings. Kohli, though, kept the focus on the team rather than his own numbers. He said personal milestones are important, but winning games for India remains the bigger priority.