'He is playing with freedom': Shubman Gill on Virat Kohli's new approach

India captain Shubman Gill believes that the key to maximizing the potential of star batter Virat Kohli is to allow him to play naturally. Kohli demonstrated this approach during India's emphatic eight-wicket victory over West Indies in the opening ODI of the three-match series at Greenfield International Stadium on Sunday. Gill himself contributed 110 runs off 88 balls, forming a crucial 151-run partnership with Kohli.

Kohli's unbeaten 139-ball knock was instrumental in India's 296-run chase, which they completed with 50 balls to spare, giving the team a 1-0 lead in the series. Kohli also achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 15,000 ODI runs during his performance. Gill expressed his satisfaction with Kohli's batting, noting that the Indian captain is enjoying the game and making the most of his ability to score boundaries.

"I honestly thought I should have finished the game after I got out, but it was a satisfying innings for me," Gill said in the post-match presentation ceremony. "He's batting superbly and I think he's enjoying the game a lot more, playing with freedom. That's the reality of his batting and he always had the ability to clear the boundary at will, and he's doing it right now."

Gill praised the impact of bowler Kuldeep Yadav, who turned the game around after West Indies made a strong start. Kohli stayed till the end to help complete the chase, and Gill commended Kuldeep's bowling performance, stating that a player like Kuldeep, especially in the middle overs, can be a wicket-taker when he bowls well.