An average of 31 after 19 Test matches doesn’t justify the “hype” around Shubman Gill, feels former opener and selector Kris Srikkanth.
While refraining from making any scathing criticism of the 24-year-old batter, Kris Srikkanth did mention the labels that have been attached to Gill over the past three years. Fans and experts have considered Gill as the next Virat Kohli, nicknaming him the ‘Prince’, the successor of ‘King’ Kohli.
However, barring a 91 at the Gabba at the start of 2021, Shubman Gill hasn’t produced any memorable Test knocks. His two Test centuries have come in Bangladesh and Ahmedabad, where it was such a flat track that the game ended in a draw, which is not common in Indian conditions.
Shubman Gill has to perform well across the world: Kris Srikkanth
His move to the number 3 spot – after the axing of Cheteshwar Pujara – hasn’t resulted in the desired outcome so far, with scores of 6, 10, 29* (vs WI), 2, and 26 (vs SA). It’s early days for young Gill, but Srikkanth asserted the importance of scoring runs in foreign conditions – he averages 28 in 14 innings in SENA countries with 2 fifties – to truly become the next big thing.
“Shubman Gill has to perform well across the world. Scoring runs in the sub-continent alone doesn’t help. He has to score runs overseas. Why are we calling Virat Kohli the King? Look at his record, even in the last year, be it Test matches, ODI or T20Is. Just look at his records. I have nothing more to say. Yes, I accept you can’t produce a Virat Kohli every time. Everybody can’t producing Virat Kohli (Kohli-like numbers). But you have to try and get to at least a bit of that stature,” Srikkanth said in a YouTube show.
“I think the hype around Shubman Gill, quite a few are saying ‘he is the next this, next that’. I think we will have to wait and see. I wouldn’t overrate him, I wouldn’t want to underestimate him.”
Rohit Sharma said "Shubman Gill prefers to bat at 3 & he feels he can do well for us batting at that position – I personally hated batting at 3". [PTI] pic.twitter.com/0l2ju4UWuD
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 2, 2024
The second IND vs SA Test in Cape Town starts on Wednesday.
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