Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth feels that Shubman Gill needs to perform consistently well abroad to live up to expectations. Kris Srikkanth urged Shubman Gill to aim to achieve Virat Kohli-like stature through consistent and impactful performances.
Shubman Gill made scores of 2 and 28 in India’s first Test batsman against South Africa, where his team faced an innings and a 32-run loss at Centurion. Notably, the young batsman has failed to surpass 30 in any of his five innings in Tests since the West Indies series.
The 24-year-old scored 994 runs in 19 Test matches at a dismal average of 31.06, including two centuries and four fifties. Gill has managed only 83 runs in his last five innings. His last notable performance (128) came in the fourth Test against Australia in March.
Shubman Gill has to perform well – Kris Srikkanth
Kris Srikkanth emphasized the need for Shubman Gill to excel in international cricket, especially scoring runs in overseas conditions. Srikkanth drew a parallel with Virat Kohli, highlighting his remarkable records across all formats.
“Shubman Gill has to perform well all over the world. Scoring runs in the subcontinent alone doesn’t help. He has to score runs abroad. Why do we call Virat Kohli King? Look at his record, even in the last one year, be it Test matches, ODIs or T20Is. Just look at his records. I have nothing else to say. Yes, I accept that you cannot produce a Virat Kohli every time. Not everyone can produce Virat Kohli (Kohli-like numbers). But you have to try to reach at least a little bit of that stature,” Srikkanth said in a YouTube show.
Gill emerged as the leading run-scorer in international cricket in 2023, amassing over 2000 runs. Gill showcased his batting prowess during the ODI World Cup, scoring 354 runs, including four fifties. He managed a T20I century in Ahmedabad, but only a fifty in 13 innings.
I wouldn’t overrate Shubman Gill – Kris Srikkanth
Kris Srikkanth commented on the hype surrounding Shubman Gill and warned against overrating or underrating the young talent. Srikkanth also praised Rishabh Pant, highlighting his exceptional class, even though he is currently unavailable for selection.
“I think in the midst of the hype around Shubman Gill, many are saying ‘he’s the next this, the next that.’ I guess we’ll have to wait and see. “I wouldn’t overrate him, I wouldn’t underestimate him.”
KL Rahul is someone who has performed poorly. With the class he has, he can become at least 60-70 per cent of what Virat Kohli has become. That’s my rating. Rishabh Pant is another class player. He is on another level. Unfortunately, we don’t have him to select now,” Srikkanth added.
India are targeting Shubman Gill to regain form at the No. 3 position, considering the team’s vital Test commitments in a busy next year. India will hope to avoid a clean sweep when they take on South Africa in the New Year’s Test match in Cape Town from January 3-7.
Also Read: IND vs SA: Shubman Gill named India’s best performer and breakout star in 2023 by Sunil Gavaskar, Irfan Pathan
