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[coolcucumber_1]

Just got back from India last week and have to say was really Impressed with the new bats by SS and SG, even SF had a few rockets that were picked by India U-19 team guys while i was shopping.

After much deliberation between a TON Reserve edition , DK19 SS bat and this Gladiator i walked out of the shop after almost 2 hours.

I shall let the pics do the talking.

I know not everyone will believe that by writing G Gambhir at the toe it would be his bat nor that i care. I bought this simply because it had the best pickup among the three.
The bat weighs 2.8.5 and feels amazing for the size.

Now all 3 were stunners in their own right but the DK 19 had V Rao(presumably Venugopal Rao) written at the toe and the SF was for Vijay Zol who did pick it up in front of my own eyes.

[WalkingWicket37]

Nice shape!
Shame they forgot to sand the toe 

And I prefer the TON stamps to the slanted S personally, but that's probably the least of your worries haha

[TBONTB]

That is a serious duckbill! I have to agree those S are a bit funny! But all the marker pen branding is a bit weird isn't it!

[FattusCattus]

Love, love, love that profile!!!!! That is the Daddy for me at the moment.

[coolcucumber_1]

Yes even i was intrigued by the slanted S as this was the only bat that had those marks in the shop.

The shopkeeper mentioned that it was from a batch of bats that were getting these logos and usually had Nike/MRF or different sponsor stickers put on them by the players.

Not that it matters actually makes it a little different and I like it

[InternalTraining]

Duck bills are big now. Everybody's using them.

[jamesisapayne]

That's a seriously good profile. The non-concaved Indian profiled bats are just about the perfect shape!

[IQ]

Sure looks like GG's bat

[coolcucumber_1]

There is a lot of mid and lower models from SS/TON that have this profile now as well.

I remember a SS ELXI (first time saw this model) which had the same exact specs but picked up around 2.10-2.11 and about a 200 bucks cheaper

[InternalTraining]

bails are flying? Maybe SS need a new sponsored player for this shape...someone who can hit big sixes. 

Sure looks like GG's bat

[potzy248]

Rohit Sharma uses this exact (well, looks very similar) profile.

[mp07]

good bat, but finishing doesn't look too good...toe could use more sanding to make it look better.

[Cover_Drive]

So, someone at SS does write on toe then it seems because in past we saw bats in UK with writing and now this.

Beautiful profile.

[rajesh500]

you are right Uzair! I have one which Kullusekara bat, I got it from Dave (ProcricketB3). That bat is still going like a GUN, 2.8 with 40mm edges.

[coolcucumber_1]

So, someone at SS does write on toe then it seems because in past we saw bats in UK with writing and now this.

Beautiful profile.

Yes looks like that as i said there were more bats with names at the toe. I wasn't believing it either till the SF with Zol written on it got picked up by the actual player while i was there. Funny thing is there were 3 of the DR Smith SF bats and two were heavy ; well heavy for me as they were 1200 gms and one at 1180 which i was liking.
Apparently Zol just looked at the two with his name and apparently they were the exact weight he wanted so took them and left.
Which tells me this name writing could be mainly with weights rather than profile or he wasnt as picky as me as i was in there for almost 2.5 hrs