- Nasima Akter
Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan Meet the Legendary Brian Lara
Young Indian sensations Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan had a heartwarming interaction with the legendary Brian Lara at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba. They met the Prince of Trinidad, one of the greatest batters cricket has ever seen, after India's emphatic victory in the 3rd ODI against the West Indies on August 1. The two fanboys were thrilled to interact with him and had the privilege of meeting him on the hallowed grounds of the academy.
The wonderful encounter was filled with inspiring moments as Shubman and Ishan reignited their inner fanboy and admiration for the legendary cricketer. Gill expressed his regard for Lara's batting style, particularly how he sought to dominate bowlers right from the beginning.
“All my memories of him is smashing the bowlers and taking on the bowlers whenever I used to see him, especially in red ball,” Gill said. “You used to be one of those people who used to go and straightaway, from ball one, you would take on the bowlers and take on the challenge, and that really inspired us as kids, to be able to [learn] how to dominate the game in all formats.”
Ishan Kishan, who deservedly won the Player of the Series Award for his outstanding performance, admitted that he had thought about scoring a double century in the third ODI due to the favorable batting conditions.
The meeting was especially unforgettable for Ishan. He disclosed that he had once received a message from Brian Lara on Instagram, which left him amazed by the cricketing legend's warmth and humility. "I was actually shocked. I couldn't believe that such a legend of the game texted me. I was very happy about it," Ishan happily exclaimed.
"So performing here (Brian Lara Stadium and Academy in Trinidad), where your name is there on the board, it was really special for me to perform here, and I love to watch highlights of your innings, how you used to do that (high backlift) and play shots," Kishan said.
In the historic ODI held at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, India put on an impressive performance, scoring a massive 351 runs and bowling out the West Indies for 151, securing a glorious series victory. For Lara, seeing India's greatness on the same ground where his legacy is celebrated was a proud and joyful moment.
Lara praised India's cricketing talent, expressing that the country possesses enough high-quality players to form three international teams.
"India is like a second home to me. Looking at the young promising cricketers in India, it is something that I've grown up doing... And just to see the talent here with this Indian team and so many different teams that they have at the moment, they can pick a second XI and even a third XI,” Lara said.
The legend even has a tradition of inviting teams for dinner at his mansion whenever there is a game in town, and Gill and Kishan were thrilled about the opportunity to share a meal with the cricketing superstar.
