Former Indian all-rounder Abhishek Nayar hailed young Indian opener Shubman Gill for his batting approach against Australia in the three-match ODI series. The 24-year-old got off to a good start against Australia in the second ODI match in Indore until rain forced a halt to play in the tenth over and Gill continued his fine batting after the rain to score his fifth ODI hundred in 2023.
At the second One-Day International match against Australia on Sunday at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, India’s opener Shubman Gill blasted his sixth ODI hundred. In the 33rd over of India’s innings, Gill quickly singled off Sean Abbott to reach the three-figure mark off 92 balls and was dismissed by Cameron Green’s bowling and the right-handed opener will look to continue his fine form going forward.
During a discussion with Jiocinema, Abhishek Nayar heaped praise on Shubman Gill for his strategies against the Australian pacers in the early part of the game and lauded him for his maturity and versatility in the white-ball format of the game in recent times.
“Against the pacers, he did not get the pace that he wanted so he started to use his feet, which is why Shubman Gill is touted to be the next big thing, is because he can have these versatile games with him. He can up the ante when he wants to, he can take his time. He is just terrific and he just shows a lot of maturity,” Abhishek Nayar said.
Shubman has been one of India’s best batsmen in recent months and has dominated in all three formats of the game. Gill is expected to play a vital as an opener for the ODI World Cup in 2023, alongside the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma.
In 20 ODIs so far, Gill has amassed 1,230 runs at an average of 72.35 and a strike rate of 105.03. He has five centuries and five fifties to his credit in 2023. His highest score was 208 in a 50-over match against New Zealand.
Shubman Gill has impressed everyone with his consistency at the top of the order alongside the Indian skipper in the 50-over format and the form of the Indian openers will be crucial for the team’s success in the ODI World Cup 2023.