Sanjay Manjrekar demeans Shreyas Iyer while declaring Shubman Gill as India's future batting great

India's vice-captain Shubman Gill played an excellent knock against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy 2025. Gill struck a memorable hundred in India's opening game of the tournament and helped his team start their campaign on a winning note.

After this knock, former India cricketer and expert Sanjay Manjrekar was all praises for Shubman Gill. Manjrekar feels that Gill can serve India for a long time and also compared him to the middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer.

Manjrekar also made a bold claim that Gill is yet to show his full potential in ODIs and hailed some of his shots that caught the eye of the viewers. The opener started well and ensured to stay there till the end to see India through.

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Sanjay Manjrekar hails Shubman Gill

While speaking on ESPNCricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar labeled Shubman Gill as "lambi race ka ghoda (one for the long haul)". Manjreka believes that Gill has just performed 60% of his ability so far and he still has a lot to offer.

"He (Gill) is batting at the right position to make a huge impact. When he gets a hundred, like today, it seems like there is plenty left in the tank. It was like 60% of Shubman Gill is enough to get a hundred like this and he stays till the end," Manjrekar observed.

The former India batter was in awe of Gill and his shots and analyzed them. He feels that Gill is already playing wonderfully at such a young age and will keep doing wonders in the future.

"Some of the shots he played, the good-length ball he hit and it went into second tier, the big game is at his beck and call. Can he be better in 50-over cricket as a batter? I don't think so, what can be better than this?" Manjrekar wondered.

Sanjay Manjrekar compares him with Shreyas Iyer

Speaking further in the same video, Sanjay Manjrekar compared Shubman Gill's ODI career with that of Shreyas Iyer. He believes that Gill looks to bat till the end which is a trait missing in Iyer's batting skills.

"That is the difference between Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill that Gill will take you right till the end. He is somebody who you think is going to be around for 10-15 years. Shreyas Iyer, despite his obvious talent, doesn't give you that impression," said Manjrekar.

While Gill scored a magnificent ton, Shreyas Iyer had an off day and was dismissed cheaply for 15 off 17 balls. Iyer tried to clear the infield off Mustafizur Rahman but holed out to mid-off in the process.

India start with a win

India started its Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a comfortable win over Bangladesh in Dubai. After opting to bat first, Bangladesh scored 228 in the first innings on the back of a brilliant hundred from Towhid Hridoy and a crucial fifty from Jaker Ali.

At 35-5, it seemed like Bangladesh would be bowled out soon but Hridoy and Jaker stitched together a fine partnership to bring Bangladesh back into the game. Mohammed Shami shone for India with 5-53 in 10 overs.

In reply, India got off to a flyer from Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Despite losing some quick wickets, India reached the target comfortably in the end. Gill remained unbeaten on 101 off 129 balls, striking 9 fours and 2 sixes in the process.