File photo of Shubman Gill.© BCCI
Former India captain Kapil Dev believes Shubman Gill needs to perform consistently in two to three IPL seasons to be included in the list of great players. Gill is in blistering form in the ongoing IPL and has already scored 851 runs at an average of 60 plus and a strike rate of over 150. While many cricket pundits and analysts have come to compare the youngster to the likes of Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil believes that it’s too early to give Gill that status.
“Sunil Gavaskar came, Sachin Tendulkar came, then Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli and now with the kind of percussion he’s showing, it looks like Shubman Gill is following in their footsteps. But I’d like to give him one more season (before he makes big claims). He certainly has the talent and the ability, but he needs more maturity,” Kapil said in an interaction with ABP News.
“If he plays another season like this, there is no doubt that he can also be placed on the list of great players. But I would not like to take him to that league at the moment. Maybe he should give another year. It is too early (to say),” the former Indian skipper added.
Gill has scored three centuries in IPL 2023. He is close to Virat Kohli’s record (973 runs) of scoring most runs in a single edition of the T20 tournament.
“When you play cricket like that for about three seasons then maturity comes and your talent is also tested. Bowlers get to know your strengths and weaknesses by then. If Gill can handle that I can say he’s a great player is or could be.” a great player,” said Kapil.
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