‘Get your feet off the ground. Respect your…’: AB de Villiers' hard-hitting take on Shubman Gill

It would be an understatement to say Shubman Gill has hit a purple patch. Even the darkest shade of purple would struggle to do justice to the kind of form Gill is in across formats. In the last 12 months or so, Gill has emerged as India's first-choice opener in all formats with centuries in ODIs, T20Is, and Tests and a world record double hundred in ODIs. Needless to say, there is a lot of expectation from him in the IPL and the right-hander got off to the best possible start.

In the opening match of IPL 2023, Gill smashed a sparkling 63 off just 36 balls to help Gujarat Titans chase down 179 against Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad. Gujarat reached the target with four balls and five wickets to spare.

South Africa legend AB de Villiers said Gill should just respect his form and carry on the good work. "Now it's a matter of respecting your form. Come in, get a good start in the IPL. Get your feet off the ground. He is in good form, he has prepared well, the confidence is there. Now it's just a matter of respecting the form, don't let it go,' de Villiers said on Jio Cinema.

Gill, who hit six fours and three sixes on Friday, said he wasn't happy as he could not finish the match for his side. "Felt pretty good. Little bit disappointed with myself for getting out. But getting off to a good start is very important for the team. Definitely makes a difference when you've got runs under your belt at the international level. Wicket was good to bat. Don't have to overhit, just have to time it well and it flies," Gill said at the post-match press conference.

"No specific roles given to us. It's just about who gets set. We have to play (to) the situation," he added.

Legendary India cricketer Anil Kumble said Gill realises that he has to convert his starts into something big. "It's pleasing to watch Shubman. When you listen to Shubman now, he recognises now that he has been getting out in those 40s and 50s, that's exactly the conversation as a coach you would like to have with him. He is a talented and gifted player. He has made some changes and got a lot of runs, hundreds and double hundreds for India. He has carried on from those fifties and sixties and scored those extra 40 runs at the international level and once you do that at the international level, it becomes second nature," he said on Jio Cinema.