Gautam Gambhir has praised Shubman Gill for playing a brilliant innings in the Asia Cup 2023 Super Four match between India and Pakistan. Shubman Gill scored 58 off 52 balls as India scored 147/2 in 24.1 overs when invited to bat first at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday, 10 September. The match was stopped due to rain and will continue from the same stage. Reserved day, Monday.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Gambhir was asked about Gill’s attack on Shaheen Shah Afridi, to which he replied:
“The conditions were also different. The conditions you got in Kandy, you won’t get those conditions in Colombo. It was overcast in Kandy but it was quite sunny when Shaheen Shah Afridi started in Colombo. If the ball doesn’t swing much, Shubman Gill can be extremely attacking.”
The former Indian opener said that the young player reduced the pressure on Rohit Sharma. He elaborated:
“You didn’t get to see much swing but I believe the way Shubman batted, if someone removed the pressure from Rohit Sharma, it was Shubman Gill. He played exceptional shots – towards mid-off, over the bowler’s head and then the cover drive. We got to see all types of shots and this was Shubman’s class.
Gill hit 10 fours during his innings. The stylish opener hit three fours each in Afridi’s second and third overs, forcing Babar Azam to remove the left-arm pacer from the attack.
Also Read: Dinesh Karthik On Shadab Khan’s Bowling In IND vs. PAK Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 Clash
“It Shows How Differently Shubman Gill Batted” – Gautam Gambhir Said The Youngster Was A Key Partner Early On
Noting that Shubman Gill was the early aggressor, Gautam Gambhir praised Rohit Sharma for playing Naseem Shah carefully. They said:
“At one stage, Shubman Gill was on 45 and Rohit Sharma was on 15 or 16. It shows how differently Shubman Gill batted. No doubt Rohit Sharma played Naseem Shah extremely well because considering the exceptional spell he was bowling, some other batter could have been nicked off had he tried to attack him.”
The cricketer-turned-commentator praised the Indian captain for bringing his experience to the fore. he explained:
“So this is also experience, that who is bowling well and whom you need to see off. I remember Rohit Sharma leaving the last ball off Naseem Shah’s fifth over after hitting two fours because he knew it was the last ball of his spell. If he had gotten out to that ball, the next batter might have been under greater pressure.’
Gautam Gambhir also praised Gill for not being in two minds whenever he wanted to attack. While admitting that the opener got a few chances, he pointed out that he never got into a position to survive.
