IND vs NZ: "Young Man Who Seems To Have A 35-year-old Head On His Shoulder" - Sunil Gavaskar On Shubman Gill

Published - 19 Jan 2023, 01:05 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 07:09 AM

Shubman Gill (PC-AP)

Sunil Gavaskar, a former captain of India, lavished admiration on Shubman Gill after the youthful opener became the youngest player to score a double century in an ODI during the first game of the series against New Zealand. According to Gavaskar, Gill batted like a youthful man with a 35-year-old head perched on his shoulder.

To help India defeat New Zealand, Gill hit a coming-of-age double century that helped India reach 349 for 8. With little assistance from the other end, Gill batted through the whole innings, scoring a remarkable 208 off 149 balls. Rohit Sharma, the captain, scored 34 of 38, which was the second-best total of the innings.

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Sunil Gavaskar Lauds Unbelievable Innings By Shubman Gill

Since winning the 2018 U-19 World Cup, the 23-year-old has been heralded as the ‘next big thing’ in Indian cricket. He hammered 19 fours and nine sixes, six of which came after his 150. He also recorded his second straight three-digit score along with his first double-century.

“It was an unbelievable innings. Innings of a young man who seems to have a 35-year-old head on his shoulder. The way he paced his innings, the way he was counterattacking the bowlers,” Sunil Gavaskar told India Today.

“After the hundred, the way he went into top gear was simply fantastic to watch. It was a delight because at the end of the day he seemed as fresh as a daisy. His innings certainly augurs well for the future and the ODI World Cup,” Gavaskar added.

Gill unleashed his trademark pull shot off the pacers by using his feet to block the spinners. Before scoring his third ODI century with a single, he got Santner to 99. For the celebrations following the century, he reserved his greatest shot, blasting a full delivery from Tickner between mid-wicket and mid-on.

Shubman Gill Becomes Youngest Double Centurion In ODIs

As India sailed toward 300, Gill hit a six from Bracewell over deep midwicket to score 150. Following that, he went ballistic and scored 200 off Ferguson in the 49th over with three massive sixes. India scored 57 runs in the final five overs because to his explosive hitting.

The 23-year-old scored a double hundred in his incredible innings, becoming him the youngest player to ever do so in Men’s ODI history. The joint-ninth-highest score by an individual in a Men’s ODI is Gill’s 208. And he joined the select group of just eight players who have accomplished the feat in the format in history. Additionally, five of the eight players who score 200 or more in an ODI are Indian.

Also Read: IND vs NZ: Shubman Gill Becomes Fastest Indian, Overall 3rd Fastest To Score 1000 ODI Runs