India’s opening batter Shubman Gill is in some red-hot form this year. While the youngster started his year with a double ton in ODIs, Gill has scored runs in the other two formats as well. As India are taking on Australia in the fourth and final Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2022-23, Gill scored a magnificent century while batting in the first innings. The 23-year-old scored 128 runs off 235 balls to provide India with a strong foundation as they look to equal Australia’s first-innings total.
Gill looked flawless throughout his inning and caught the attention of the viewers with his stylish shots. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar also seemed mighty impressed with Gill’s temperament and run-scoring ability. The former India captain then wished that the batter goes on to score plenty of runs in the longest format of the game.
“Yeh aapki doosri century hogi…Century ka count aapka aur badhte rahe…8,000, 10,000, 15,000 run karein aap ( This is your second century. I wish your century count grows bigger and you make 8,000, 10,000, 15,000 runs),” Gavaskar said after end of Day 2’s play.
“He has a lot of time. When he plays a defensive shot, the way he bends forward, even against Mitchell Starc… he presents a straight face of the bat and plays a forward defence, it was so pleasing to see. It shows that he has confidence. He doesn’t only play on the backfoot. His foot moves forward and he has a solid defence, not just a solid attack. And in Test cricket, you need that,” he added.
The former India opening batter who himself scored thousands of runs while opening the innings for India then explained why Gill can be successful in the longest format of the game. Gavaskar said that the way Gill shuffles across the crease and moves his feet, he can take on any bowler with ease.
“Shuffling back and forth against pace bowlers isn’t very easy. But he picks the lines and lengths really well. Kisi bhi ballebaaz ke paas agar time ho, usne agar apne career ko sambhaala, toh aage jaake 8-10,000 run aaram se kar lega (If a batter has time, if he keeps his career in the right direction, he can easily score 8-10,000 runs in Tests),” Sunny G explained.