Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh heaped rich praises on young India opener Shubman Gill for his brisk half-century that helped India take a 1-0 series lead in Mohali against Australia.
Shubman Gill played his first international match at his home ground in Mohali, the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium. He had two fifties here in the IPL, but now he cracked a sensational half-century that laid the foundation for India’s run-chase of 277 runs target.
The opening pair of Gill and Gaikwad formed a partnership of 142 runs in 21.4 overs.
Shubman Gill took advantage of his home conditions: Harbhajan
Batting at a superb strike rate of 117, Shubman Gill scored 74 runs in 63 balls with the help of 6 fours and 2 sixes.
Harbhajan lavished laurels on Gill’s knock, saying that he showed the opponents how to bat on that pitch.
“Shubman Gill, playing at his home ground showed [the Australians] how to bat. He took advantage of his home conditions to score 74 runs,” Harbhajan said in his YouTube video.
The former off-spinner also was impressed with Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored 71 runs off 77 balls.
“I must praise Ruturaj. It’s never easy for anyone to perform when he comes into the team after a long time. But Gaikwad played really well. His partnership with Shubman Gill put Australia on the backfoot and the bowlers were left searching for answers,” he added.
The one major positive for India was in the form of Suryakumar Yadav, who scored 50 runs in 49 balls, his third half-century in 26 ODI innings. This was a non-typical Suryakumar innings where he kept patience and played traditional shots. His fifty will give the management more confidence in him in the ODI side as India approach the World Cup 2023.
On Suryakumar’s knock, Harbhajan said: “I had told already that Suryakumar Yadav could play that role at No. 6 of a finisher and that’s exactly what he did. He came to bat at that position and ensured that he finished the game with a half-century.”
The second ODI will be played on Sunday in Indore.
