Shubman Gill looks set to become the next big thing for Indian cricket. After smashing a neat double-century in the first ODI versus New Zealand, the young batter from Punjab has taken his game to the next level.
A platform where he can be considered serious meat. It isn’t just about the double-century but the consistency he has shown in the 19-odd ODI games for the Indian cricket team. One major aspect is Shubman looks like someone who has filled in the shoes of someone like Shikhar Dhawan, who lost his place but served as an able servant over the years. With the ICC World Cup 2023 in India, Shubman has shown that he belongs and can be a match-winner that India needs upfront.
What bodes well for Shubman is also that he has worked on his mistakes and cut down on too many shots after getting started earlier. He is also part of India’s team in the longest format, and so far, we have witnessed a solid approach.
Here, we may have found someone who can be the face of India for the next decade. And building bricks in both these formats can also help him get into the 20-over format as well. With India still experimenting with options in the shortest format, someone like Gill can be the perfect option to support players like Ishan Kishan or Prithvi Shaw, giving them the license to kill. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Gill has been a notable figure, and the 2023 season can help him move up a notch, which will help him be in the reckoning.
What Shubman has done in recent times is blend consistency to promise. First against Sri Lanka and then against the Kiwis, Shubman showed patience. He wasn’t in a hurry and therefore was left untroubled. Shubman has won the hearts of many former cricketers, and when you hear Ian Bishop saying that the player is Generation Next, it rings like music to the ears.
Shubman has stepped up in ODIs
Shubman became the 5th Indian batter to slam a double-ton in ODIs. His 208-run effort saw him surpass the 1000-run mark as he became the fastest Indian batter to the milestone and the second-fastest overall. In 19 matches, Shubman has already scored 1102 runs at a prolific average of 68.88. He also has five fifties in ODI cricket. As per ESPNcricinfo, Shubman has scored a healthy 751 runs against pacers at 50.06. He has a strike rate of 106.98, besides being dismissed 15 times. He can also be a solid player against spin, piling up 351 runs at 351.00, being dismissed just once. So with the World Cup at home this year, Shubman looks sorted on the tracks India will offer. Overall in List A cricket, the right-handed batter has tallied 3366 runs at 52.59. He has nine tons and 16 fifties.
Shubman’s numbers in the longest format
Shubman has already played 13 matches for India in whites, scoring a decent 732 runs at 32.00. He has one century and four fifties. He made his debut in 2020 versus the Aussies and was last seen in the Bangladesh series last month. He smashed 259 runs at an over-50-plus average in three away matches versus the Aussies in his debut series. In Bangladesh, he hammered a ton, scoring 157 runs across two matches. At home, in 11 innings, he has 263 runs. Shubman needs to be backed, and the confidence he now enjoys in ODIs could help him step things up here as well. Overall in First Class cricket, Shubman has shown pedigree with 3278 runs at 52.87. He has nine tons and 16 fifties.
Shubman can settle well in the 20-over format
Shubman has featured in just three matches for India in the 20-over format, with 46 as his best score. Going forward, if another strong IPL season comes his way, we might see him don the jersey in a more familiar manner. In the IPL, Shubman has scored 1900 runs across 74 games. He moved to Gujarat from KKR ahead of last season’s auction and scored 483 runs in what became a title-winning campaign.
Conclusion
Smashing 6, 6, and 6 against one of the world’s fastest bowlers, Lockie Ferguson, to get to a double hundred is no mean feat. We are witnessing someone who is enjoying his cricket without any fear and where there is plenty of self-belief. With an ability to hit good balls for boundaries, we should be in awe of someone who can enjoy success just like Virat Kohli.
