(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Stylish India batter Shubman Gill is on the road to becoming the next big thing in Indian cricket, following the footsteps of legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virat Kohli.
In his short career, Shubman has showcased his batting class and elegance both at the international level and in domestic cricket. Shubman won the orange cap in the recent IPL season while playing for the Gujarat Titans, scoring 890 runs in 17 matches. Additionally, he has smashed an ODI double century.
Former India cricketer Suresh Raina praised Shubman and acknowledged that he will be the most important player for India in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. He also opined that the opener can do what Rohit Sharma did in the 2019 World Cup.
“He’ll be one of the most important players at the World Cup. I know that he wants to be a superstar and wants to be the next Virat Kohli and is in that aura already and after this World Cup, we will be talking about him more often,” said Raina on JioCinema.
“The form he’s playing in with his hand speed – it’s extremely strong. Spinners don’t know where to bowl to him and if fast bowlers don’t swing the ball, he can play those really well with a straight or a flick. His mindset will not stop here. What Rohit Sharma did in the 2019 World Cup; Gill could do the same for India this year. He’ll get 50 overs to bat, so it’s a takeoff point for his batting. I think he’s a born leader and he shows that in his game,” he added.
Raina also believes that after his struggle in the West Indies tour, Shubman has found back his touch.
“He’s been consistent for a year and a half. He struggled in the middle against West Indies, but the way he’s come back and scored good runs in the Asia Cup. He is looking positive, using good footwork, and from getting out at 40 against the West Indies, he is now comfortably hitting 50s and even 100s,” Raina concluded.
The 24-year-old is currently the second-ranked ICC batter in the ODIs, just behind Babar Azam, who holds the numero uno spot. Shubman has the perfect opportunity to displace Babar in the upcoming India versus Australia three-match ODI series.
Shubman has been at the top of the list of the run-scorers for India in ODIs in 2023, scoring 1,052 runs in 18 innings with an average of 70.13 and a strike rate of 104.05. He has also smashed four ODI centuries, which is the most by any player in 2023. Overall, he has played 33 ODIs for India and has scored 1,739 runs with an average of 64.40.