"Shubman Gill isn't a big hitter"- Ricky Ponting deliver cold-blooded verdict
Published - 22 Feb 2025, 11:02 AM | Updated - 22 Feb 2025, 11:13 AM
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Shubman Gill has been in sublime form with the bat as he smashed a stunning century to help India beat Bangladesh by six wickets in their first match at the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on February 20.
India’s ODI vice-captain hammered his second consecutive century, and this time, his unbeaten ton came while chasing 229 runs against the Tigers in Dubai. During his match-winning knock, Gill hit nine boundaries and two sixes to strengthen his top position in his ICC ODI rankings.
Ricky Ponting hails Shubman Gill’s brilliance after a spectacular century against Bangladesh
After his remarkable century, the former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has showered rich praise on Shubman Gill. He believes that Gill’s recent rise in the ICC rankings and Dubai hundred are a clear reflection of his dominance in white-ball cricket.
Ricky Ponting said on The ICC Review podcast, “He thoroughly deserves to be the number one ranked batsman in the world at the moment, and it's a great sign for India that he's got his account underway early in the first game of a Champions Trophy.”
White ball game really suits Shubman Gill's style of play: Ricky Ponting
The legendary cricketer admitted that Test cricket hasn’t brought out his best yet, but Gill’s white-ball game has been nothing short of exceptional over the years. His ability to handle pace and find boundaries effortlessly, his maturity, and his confidence are just unbelievable.
Ponting further explained, “He's been a very, very good international player for a number of years. He hasn't sort of transferred that over into Test Match cricket yet, but his white-ball cricket over the last three or four years has been outstanding. Look, he's a big game player as well. I just think that the white ball game really suits his style of play.”
Ricky Ponting says Shubman Gill is a 'really softly spoken guy'
The cricket experts further highlighted the 25-year-old batter’s ability to take advantage of the powerplay in ODI cricket. Ponting noted that Gill can start aggressively with the field up, finding boundaries early with his natural stroke play and attacking approach.
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The Aussie great further said, “He's not a big hitter; he's not anyone that goes out there and tries to do anything outside of the way that he can naturally play. He just scores; he scores boundaries almost at will against fast bowling, against the white ball. He just seems like a really nice character. A really softly spoken guy, very driven for what he wants to achieve in the game.”
I just like Shubman Gill's demeanor: Ricky Ponting
In the end, Ponting revealed that he got to know more about Gill during the IPL over the past few years, and he admires his focused mindset and determination to excel, both as a batter and a leader. His drive to constantly improve sets him apart as a rising star in the game.
Notably, Gill will be next seen in action in India’s much-awaited clash with Pakistan in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday, February 23, in Dubai, and he would love to continue his sizzling form and notch up his hat trick of centuries. His last two tons came against England and Bangladesh.
