Even around seven months back, prior to the start of IPL 2020, Brendon McCullum was so impressed with how Shubman Gill carried himself that he had included the youngster in Kolkata Knight Riders’ leadership group.

Shubman’s international experience then was all of a couple of ODIs during India’s limited-overs tour of New Zealand in early 2019, though he had already established himself in the domestic circuit.

Shubman’s IPL campaign last year was pretty decent even though the Knight Riders failed to make the playoffs. But since the last IPL, the 21-year-old opener’s cricketing journey, which included a very successful Test debut in Australia, has been “fantastic”.

“It has been a fantastic journey full of experiences, some of them being really different ones. I think life has really been kind to me and I’m really grateful for it,” Shubman told The Telegraph on Sunday.

Following an impressive debut in the Boxing Day Test, Shubman hit two half-centuries, of which the second — a fluent 91 in the final Test in Brisbane — laid the platform for India’s series victory versus Australia. The Australia tour, Shubman acknowledged, has certainly made him mentally stronger.

“When you go outside of India, especially to Australia, it’s always an intimidating place to tour. But when you do well there, it leads to a massive confidence boost and gains you more mental strength as well.

“So four sure that tour has made me mentally stronger,” Shubman emphasised.

The home Tests versus England didn’t go as per his expectations, but Shubman views those matches as a “big learning curve”, which should help him to bounce back stronger. “It was a really good experience even though I didn’t perform as well as I wanted to,” he stated.

“But that happens as I can’t always expect myself to do well. I have to expect failures and lows, in life and in cricket as well. But I’m fine with that and that series was a big learning curve for me. Hopefully, I’ll come back stronger.”

The World Test Championship final versus New Zealand, scheduled this June in Southampton, could be Shubman’s next India assignment.

Shubman hopes that the Knight Riders’ practice sessions — where he faces world No.1 Test bowler Pat Cummins and New Zealand speedster Lockie Ferguson — will help him polish his skills as a batsman and keep him in a good space before the marquee Test match.

“Obviously, it helps when you play one of the best bowlers in the world at nets. It’s always challenging to face great bowlers at nets and you know, to be able to handle them well during practice is something that gives you immense confidence,” Shubman pointed out.

Talking about the IPL, Shubman had finished as the Knight Riders’ top scorer last year, aggregating 440 runs with a healthy average of 33.84, second to that of captain Eoin Morgan (41.80).

Asked about what discussions he has with the Knight Riders’ team management, Shubman said: “You keep talking about the specifics of the day rather than the overall picture. If on one particular day I’m unable to do something, well, I’ll then talk about it and ask why it has been happening.”