IPL 2023: I’m very excited to play with Shubman Gill at Gujarat Titans, says Shivam Mavi

Gujarat Titans’ new recruit Shivam Mavi is looking forward to playing with Shubman Gill in the upcoming season of the IPL. Mavi was brought for INR 6 crores in IPL 2023 mini-auction by the reigning champions and he will look to deliver for the Hardik Pandya-led team.

Meanwhile, Mavi played alongside Shubman Gill when India won the Under-19 World Cup in 2018.

Gill played an instrumental role in taking Gujarat Titans to glory in their maiden season of the IPL, amassing 483 runs in 16 matches at an average of 34.50 and a strike rate of 132.32. Gill was the Titans’ second-highest run-getter after skipper Hardik Pandya.

On the other hand, Mavi had scalped five wickets in six matches for Kolkata Knight Riders in the previous season and he will be determined to come up with a better bowling show for GT.

“I am very excited to play with Shubman. Obviously, it feels very good, since our Under-19 days we have played together. We played our U-19 series together, then the World Cup together, then we were at Kolkata Knight Riders together, then we played for India and now for Gujarat Titans,” said Mavi.

Mavi revealed he wanted to play for the defending champions when he was released by KKR. The fast bowler also praised skipper Hardik Pandya and head coach Ashish Nehra.

“I wanted to be picked by the Gujarat Titans because I was excited to play with them. I had heard that the management and the captain here are very good. I have met all of them earlier. That nature and the atmosphere of the team is really good, that’s why I wanted to be picked by GT,” Mavi added.

Mavi made his T20I debut under the leadership of Hardik Pandya while playing against Sri Lanka earlier in the year. The youngster returned with impressive figures of 4-22 in his quota of four overs and revealed the all-rounder was very supportive of him.

“I played with Hardik Bhaiya for India and he supported me a lot during my debut. He didn’t let me feel any pressure. Obviously, when you play your first match there’s a lot of pressure on you but he told me to bowl without worrying. He advised me to bowl just like I did during IPL and Ranji. For a youngster, it feels great to have such support,” said Mavi.

Gujarat Titans will begin their IPL 2023 campaign against Chennai Super League at their home ground of Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on 31st March.