Shubman Gill scored a double barrel in the 1st ODI vs New Zealand©AFP
Shubman Gill has been impressive to say the least with his recent performances. Among his list of admirers is also the great Sunil Gavaskar. Gill recently became the eighth batsman to score a double barrel in the ODI format. He 208 against New Zealand in the first ODI. Currently, the 23-year-old is averaging an astonishing 71.38 in ODIs after playing 20 matches. He has reached the three-digit mark three times in the 50-over format. Even in the second ODI on Sunday, Gill remained unbeaten on 40 to ensure India passed New Zealand’s target of 109 runs without any hiccups.
After the game, Gill had a nice talk with Gavaskar. “I’ve given you a new nickname, Smoothman Gill. I hope you don’t mind,” Sunil Gavaskar said during an interview following India’s second ODI victory against New Zealand in Raipur on Saturday.
Gill replied, “I don’t mind at all, sir.”
In the first ODI against New Zealand, Gill also completed 1000 runs in just 19 innings. He is the fastest Indian to reach the target, surpassing Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan – both of whom scored 1000 points in 24 innings.
Gill is now also the second fastest ever to score 1000 runs along with Pakistan’s Imam-ul-Haq. In completing 1000 runs in 19 innings, Gill surpassed the likes of Viv Richards, Babar Azam, Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott, Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen – all of whom scored 1000 ODI runs in 21 innings. Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman (18 innings) is the fastest to 1000 runs in ODIs.
Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt also praised Gill’s batting. “I became a huge fan of Shubman Gill ever since I saw him play in the Test Championship final against New Zealand. His elegance and style in his strokes are truly commendable. The only concern I had was why he is unable to to get a high score. But he played a completely different kind of cricket yesterday. Very few people have that kind of finish in their style at such a young age. I think he’s one of his kind. I’m not saying he has achieved everything in his career, but if he keeps playing like this and keeps working hard, then he will be on the path where he will achieve greatness,” Butt said on his YouTube channel.
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