Shubman Gill has had a breakthrough season in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 where the right-hander amassed 890 runs in 17 matches at an average of 59,33 and at a strike rate of 157.80. Now the big question arises whether he can take the form into the World Test Championship final (WTC). Gill recently scored his second Test match hundred in the fourth test of the Border-Gavaskar trophy against Australia. Gill has been in roaring form for India in all formats over the last 12 months.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli lauded Gill and was full of praise for his recent exploits with the bat. “He (Gill) speaks to me a lot about the game, is very keen to learn and has an amazing skill set at his age,” Kohli told the Cricket Governing Body in an interview. “He has got an amazing ability and a temperament to perform at the highest level and is confident and we do have that relationship and we do have that understanding based upon respect.” Kohli added.
I am very keen to help Shubman Gill grow and understand his fullest potential: Virat Kohli
Like Gill, Kohli also had a good season with runs under his belt in IPL 2023. He took some time to get going but when he found his mojo Kohli was a different beast altogether. In IPL 2023, Kohli racked up 639 runs in 14 games at an average of 53.25 and at a strike rate of 139.82 with six fifties and two hundreds to cap off a good season. Since the duo are in form at present, they will be the key for India ahead of the WTC final.
“I am keen to help him grow and really understand his potential and come into his own, so that he can play for a long time and perform consistently, and India cricket gets benefited,” Kohli reiterated. When it comes to Test cricket Gill has scored two tons and has made 890 runs in the longest format at an average of 34.23 and at a strike rate of 57.64. Gill has also struck four-half centuries in white flannels.
“These tags of king and prince and all of that kind of thing are great for the public and spectators to see, but I think the job of any senior player is to help improve the youngsters and give them the insight (that) you have had throughout your career. As long as a guy is keen to learn, like him, he is going to be fine as he wants to learn how to do this for a long time at the highest level and perform consistently.
