“Usne Bumrah ko bilkul nahi dekha, usne sirf ball ko dekha [he did not look at the bowler, he just looked at the delivery]. If it is in the slot, he will not spare it. The ball will go over the fence for sure. It’s the result of one and a half years of hard work. We practised this with a Cosco [tennis] ball. If you look at his bat speed, it is something to watch. He has worked a lot on this,” Gill told TimesofIndia.com.
“I’ll explain. We decided to have three sessions every day, all with Cosco [tennis] balls. Each session had around 200 to 250 deliveries – so in total, almost 600 to 700 balls in a day. The sessions were divided into three parts: first with regular balls, second with wet balls bowled by fast bowlers, and third with taped balls. Sometimes we also practised with white and red leather balls, but Cosco-ball preparation was our main focus. And whenever he came to the ground, he never sat idle. He was always doing something – fielding, or even wicketkeeping at times,” he said.
“There are people who say they play 1,500 or 2,000 balls in a day. I don’t believe in that formula. Practice needs to be purposeful, with clarity and the right mindset. Playing 2,000 balls a day doesn’t make a player. Even if you face 100 balls with quality, you can still become one,” he said.
“He practised shots while attacking close to his body – what you call the short-arm jab. We used stick bowlers and throwdown specialists for that. Some of them could simulate speeds of 140-150 kmph,” Gill added.
How Salil caught Ishan Kishan’s eyes
It was against Ishan Kishan’s Jharkhand side that Salil delivered one of his most memorable knocks before he was scouted to the IPL.
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last season, he smashed an unbeaten 125 off just 45 balls, tonking 11 sixes in a brute display of power-hitting. And Ishan, leading the opposition, had a front-row seat to the carnage as the youngster cleared the ropes with ease.
It was a difficult phase, with several challenges that could have easily disrupted his progress.
However, his coach insists that Salil was always a special talent who never lost sight of his goal. He kept working on his game, expanding his shot range and staying committed despite setbacks.
“He was devastated. It took some time for his family and me to help him come to terms with it. He is still young and was very close to his father. His father had only one dream – to see his son play for India and in the IPL. One has already been fulfilled, and I’m sure he will represent India someday as well,” the coach said.
Salil – pooja-paath kind of boy
Many cricketers follow their own pre-match rituals, and for Salil, it begins with a visit to the temple. Whether it’s a local tournament, state-level cricket, or the IPL, he makes it a point to find a temple, offer his prayers, and only then step onto the field.
“He is a pooja-paath kind of boy. I remember one incident when he had a match – he woke up early in the morning and went looking for a temple to offer prayers,” he said.
“In fact, he doesn’t drink. He is a teetotaller. Even at Sunrisers Hyderabad parties, he prefers to sit with a glass of haldi wala doodh (turmeric milk),” the coach added.