Kolkata Knight Riders spinner, Piyush Chawla said Shubman Gill is a special talent following his terrific knock of 57 off just 36 deliveries.
His was instrumental in Kolkata’s six-wicket victory against the Chennai Super Kings yesterday (Thursday) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. It was a brilliant knock by Shubman. Skipper Dinesh Karthik also played a terrific inning and remained unbeaten on 45 off just 18 deliveries, as KKR romped home with 16 deliveries to spare.
“Before the start of the matches, during our camp…I had said that he is a special talent. Today he proved it,” Chawla was quoted, as saying by reporters at the post-match press conference.
Gill got promoted up the batting order, and it proved to be a blessing in disguise. He is instead comfortable in this situation rather than batting at number seven.
Chasing a total of 178 for victory, Kolkata was cruising from the outset. Chris Lynn smashed a couple of sixes to begin with but got dismissed in the same over of Lungisani Ngidi. When Rinku Singh was castled by Harbhajan Singh in the 12th over, KKR still required 81 off 50 deliveries.
Skipper Dinesh Karthik joined Shubman Gill in the middle. The duo shared an unbeaten 83-run partnership which sealed the deal for Kolkata with 16 deliveries in hand.
Gill’s half-century came in just 32 deliveries and was studded with four fours. In the process, Gill also became the 4th youngest to smash an IPL century following the likes of Prithvi Shaw, Sanju Samson, and Rishabh Pant.
“Nitish was injured, and he was doing well for us. We needed somebody who can graft the innings, and he did exactly the same, what the team demanded from him,” Chawla said when asked about Gill being pushed up the order.
“Batting at No.7, I guess if you see the team combination, it’s a team game, so team comes first,” he further added.
The Kolkata spinners bowled splendidly and restricted Chennai to just 177. It was a great effort given the fact that CSK had amassed more than 200 on four occasions in the tournament so far.
“We have three spinners who have played at the highest level and have done well. It was a team thought that we might go with the spinners in the slog overs, and we ended up quite well bowling with spinners in the 18th, 19th and 20 over,” said Chawla who bagged 2/35 in his four overs spell.
The importance of wrist spinners in the shortest format of the game
Chawla further stated the role of wrist spinners is very important in the shortest format of the game. He also said Kuldeep Yadav had replaced Shakib Al Hasan quite effectively and efficiently.
“Previously we had Sunil, myself and Shakib (Al Hasan). Kuldeep has come in and is filling up the boots of Shakib. He is doing really well and as I said, wrist spinner plays a big role in this format and we are lucky to have two wrist spinners and the way Sunil bowls, the whole world knows that.”
Kolkata meets Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai next. Chawla said though the Mumbai Indians are at the bottom of the points table, they can’t be taken lightly, as they are a dangerous side.
“T20 is a kind of format where no team is easy. If you see Mumbai Indians they have proved it in the IPL. They are at the bottom of the table right now but these kind of teams are even more dangerous. So we have to play good cricket to come on top.”
