Big shoes for me to fill, admits Gill as Virat and Rohit make their ODI return.

ICC – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – All eyes are on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in Perth as they prepare for India’s first one-day international against Australia on Sunday, the pair’s first national team appearance since winning the ICC Champions Trophy in March.

Shubman Gill, India’s new ODI captain, told journalists on Saturday that he had multiple chats with his predecessors who had departed from both the shortest and longest forms of the game about how to move the team ahead.

“Definitely very exciting – big shoes for me to fill carrying over the legacy (Virat and Rohit) left for us,” commented the 26-year-old.

“These are the kind of players that when I was a kid, I used to idolise them. The kind of game that they used to play, the kind of hunger that they had is something that inspired me. It’s a big honour to lead such legends of the game and learn from them.”

Gill has already captained at T20I and Test level, but the upcoming three-match series will be the first time he has led in ODIs, where he averages nearly 60 with the bat.

“I think in front of a difficult situation, I wouldn’t shy away from getting any suggestions or advice from them,” he said.

“The way they conversed and the type of communication or messaging they used with the players helped me get the most out of myself.  That’s the type of captain I’d like to be, one who makes all of his players feel confident in their roles.

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Australia captain Mitch Marsh conceded that India’s two returning hitters are contributing to an expected record attendance at the 60,000-seat Perth Stadium, which is nearly sold out despite a rain prediction.

“A lot of people will come to observe them.  “If it’s their last time on Australian soil, I hope they enjoy it,” the 33-year-old stated, before cheekily adding that he would prefer “not too much good cricket from them.”

The Perth local, who struck two hundreds and averaged 70 across white-ball formats against South Africa and New Zealand in recent months, dead-batted any suggestion that continued good form might prompt a Test recall ahead of the Ashes series this summer.

“I’ve got tickets for day one and two, I haven’t asked the wife yet, but that’s about as much thought as I’ve given it.”