Shubman Gill, the rising star of Indian cricket, has openly expressed his admiration for Virat Kohli on numerous occasions. Gill, who is currently leading the Indian Test team, has shared insights into his viewing habits in the dressing room, revealing one exception to his otherwise relaxed demeanor.

Gill admitted that he can usually "take a snooze" in the dressing room, but that all changes when Virat Kohli comes out to bat. "Iska batting kabhi nai chhodta hu," Gill stated, emphasizing that he never misses Kohli's innings. This admiration goes back to when Gill was just 13 years old, watching Kohli bat and being mesmerized by his energy and passion on the field.

Gill penned a heartfelt tribute to Kohli after the latter's retirement from Test cricket, acknowledging Kohli's profound impact on him and a generation of cricketers. "Anything I write for you, paji, will never truly capture what I feel or the impact you've had on me," Gill wrote in his social media post. He reminisced about watching Kohli bat as a teenager and expressed how Kohli reshaped the mindset of millions. Gill also hoped that the current generation of players could carry forward the same "fire and commitment" that Kohli brought to Test cricket.

Kohli, who retired from Test cricket in May 2025, played 123 Test matches, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85. He also holds the record for being India's most successful Test captain, with 40 wins in 68 matches. His retirement marked the end of an era, but his influence continues to inspire young cricketers like Gill.

Interestingly, there are striking similarities between Gill's and Kohli's careers. Both excelled in Under-19 World Cups, achieved centuries across all formats, reached top ODI rankings, and demonstrated consistent batting. In fact, Gill has been breaking some of Kohli's records recently. During the second Test against England in July 2025, Gill surpassed Kohli to become the highest run-scorer in his debut Test series as India's captain. Gill amassed 460 runs in four innings, including a remarkable 269. Kohli himself lauded Gill's performance, calling him a "star boy" and saying that he was "rewriting history".

Gill's admiration for Kohli goes beyond statistics and records. He sees Kohli as an inspiration and a role model. Gill has emphasized that one of the things he would always cherish is their partnerships whenever they used to bat together. From watching him on the screen to being able to bat with him was truly a delight, especially in Test cricket. Gill also admires Kohli's aggression, his desire to lead from the front, and his hunger and passion, stating that his attitude is very inspiring.