Gujarat Titans (GT) wicketkeeper-batter Anuj Rawat opined on the importance of preparation and mental freshness during long tournaments like the Indian Premier League (IPL), while also applauding captain Shubman Gill for his composed leadership.

Speaking to ANI ahead of GT’s clash against RCB on Thursday, Rawat said, “I think as a cricketer, you must keep doing your own preparation because you get that environment to prepare whenever you get the chance. That is a very important time, both mentally and physically–how you keep yourself fresh and wait for your opportunity.”

READ HERE: Shubman Gill Breaks Silence On ODI Futures Of Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli

On Shubman Gill’s captaincy, Rawat lauded visible improvement and maturity in his approach, stating his ability to balance aggression with composure as well.

“I saw improvement in Gill’s captaincy last year as well and even during the England Test tour. This year, he has shown a lot of calmness. There is a time to be aggressive and a time to stay calm, and that has been clearly visible. It feels good when your captain leads like this. The main advice I have taken from him is about power hitting. As a middle-order batter, my role is to finish innings strongly. He has guided me on how to extend my arms and generate power for bigger sixes, and I am working on that,” Rawat said.

He further applauded teammate Glenn Phillips for his fielding abilities, calling him a “gun fielder.”

“I think he is a gun fielder,” Rawat concluded.