Simon Doull reflects on 2018 prediction about Shubman Gill's rise and Prithvi Shaw's downfall

Former New Zealand National Cricket Team player Simon Doull came up with massive praise for Shubman Gill after his heroics with bat in the ongoing second Test against the Kiwis. He also revealed why he rated the batter superior to Prithvi Shaw in 2018.

India National Cricket Team batter Shubman Gill is carrying his golden touch with the bat in Test cricket. The batter played a magnificent innings in the ongoing third game against the New Zealand National Cricket Team at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

On a pitch where almost every Indian batter struggled to get going, Shubman Gill took the responsibility and made sure that he brought his team back into the game. This came after the India National Cricket Team lost 4 quick wickets in their first innings on Day 2.

Also Read: "Like me, personally?": Shubman Gill stuns reporter with fiery comeback after ‘runs nahi bante’ dig

Shubman Gill played innings of 90 runs

Gill, who is touted as the next big thing in Indian cricket, played a calm and composed innings and made sure that he bailed the team out of trouble. The right-hander, along with Rishabh Pant, came up with a positive mindset right from the start and put the pressure back on the opposition.

Gill oozed his class with the bat as he played gorgeous shots in his innings. The batter played a magnificent innings of 90 runs off 146 balls and also slammed 7 fours and 1 six in his knock, which allowed the team to take the first innings lead of 28 runs.

I made quite a bold statement that Shubman Gill's career would way, way surpass what Prithvi Shaw - Simon Doull

Simon Doull, while lauding Gill, revealed he picked him over Prithvi Shaw. He said that the latter had technical flaws and that the current No.3 of the Indian Test team was perfect. He also praised the batter for how he takes in information and processes it. Speaking to Jio Cinema, he explained:

“I made quite a bold statement that Shubman Gill's career would way, way surpass what Prithvi Shaw does because there were some technical flaws in Prithvi Shaw and Shubman just didn't look like he had technical flaws at that stage,”

"The impressive thing about him for me is that he's able to change things, he's able to take in information and process that.”

Both Gill and Prithvi Shaw were part of India's U19 team that won the World Cup. Since then, Gill has been only growing up in ranks and has built a reputation as India’s next batting star. Shaw on the other, has faced a massive downfall in his career despite scoring a hundred on Test debut.

When I interviewed him he was like I want big runs - Simon Doull on Shubman Gill

Simon Doull further praised Gill's hunger for runs. He said that the batter told him once that he needed big tons. Former New Zealand also hailed him, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant, as the future of Indian batting. He explained:

"When I interviewed him, he was like, I want big runs. I want big hundreds and that's the hunger of the man. When you think about Jaiswal Gill and Pant, they are the future of the batting of this side."

Gill also has been assigned the role of vice-captain of the Indian white-ball team. He recently moved to No.3 in the batting order in Tests, and after struggling initially, he has made that position his own.