In Indian cricket in year 2023 , if anybody rose from his status from being a mere talent in the Indian dressing room to be the new Poster boy of the cricket Indian cricket it only has to be the young dashing opener Shubman Gill .Touted as the next Indian superstar after sensational Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill was exceptional with the bat in 2022-23 season scoring a heap of runs in international cricket. Across 48 games for India in all three formats in 2023, the 24-year-old accumulated 2154 runs at an average of 46.82, including seven centuries and 10 fifties.
Also in the IPL season of 2023, Shubman Gill’ s performance was instrumental in Gujarat Titans(GT) reach to the finals. Gill amassed 890 runs in the IPL the second most number runs behind his idol Virat Kohli whose IPL record of 973 runs in a single season (2016) still remains intact.
Shubman Gill as IPL captain for Gujarat Titans(GT)in 2024
Even before the hammer in the IPL auction of 2023 went down this time, the recently formed successful Gujarat Titans (GT) franchise created news during the trade window itself as the Ahmedabad based franchise had to let go of their most successive captain Hardik Pandya who returned to his previous franchise Mumbai Indians. With everyone speculating Kane Williamson to be next in line ,Gujarat Titans spun in the surprise to go with Indian sensation new age superstar Shubman Gill as captain for the 2024 season.
Gill’s elevation to captaincy could be a reward for his brilliant outing int the IPL last time out. He was the leading run-scorer in IPL 2023, scoring 890 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 157.80, including three tons and four half-centuries. However his inability to stay on crease while batting in the shortest format has raised questions about his capabilities as an opener in the format with the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal slowly rising the ranks in the shorter format for India post 2023.
Gill also had a decent World Cup which was acceptable as he was recovering from dengue. However his slump in form when full to fitness remains the concern for India. In the recent Afghanistan opening T20I match at Mohali, his hometown after a decent start gifted away his wicket. This has raised concerns amongst may former cricketers regarding Shubman’s future
Post the emphatic form of run in all formats in 2023, India’s new poster boy who is touted to be the next big thing in Indian cricket, star batter Shubman Gill in 2024, came in terms with the crickets greatest reality , One day you are up and beaming next day cricket only makes you go down. This reality of the game of cricket is evident from great’s of the game from Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill in conquest of his bright future has to undergo facing this phase of cricket.
Year 2024 in international cricket, is turning to be dreadful year for Shubman Gill who after return from Dengue in the ICC World Cup 2023 has somehow failed to show his batting prowess in all formats of the game. However with T20I World Cup in sight this slump in form is a worrying sign for Indian superstar who is touted to be the next big thing in Indian cricket and would eagerly look to amend his form sooner.
Former England batter now turned commentator Kevin Pietersen has expressed his hopes for Shubman Gill to come good in upcoming T20I World Cup in June 2024.
Former England batter now commentator Kevin Pietersen supports Shubman Gill to be India’s trump card in upcoming T20I World Cup .
Former England batter now commentator Kevin Pietersen has backed Shubman Gill to play a huge role for Team India at the 2024 T20 World Cup. The nation will be looking to end its decade-long ICC silverware drought at the upcoming tournament.
The talented Indian right-handed batter made his ODI and Test debuts in 2019 and 2020 respectively. He had a breakthrough year in the shortest format in 2023. Gill made his T20I debut to kickstart the year, scoring his maiden T20I hundred in his second series ever. He then went on to win the Orange Cap for the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season as well.
He replied:
“It is Shubman Gill. He is the guy.”
Despite his standout and obvious talent, the opening batter has been struggling for runs across formats in recent times. He struggled in the home series against Afghanistan as well as the away series against South Africa, eventually losing his spot to the returning Rohit Sharma and Yashaswi Jaiswal. He has scored 335 runs across 14 T20I innings at an average of 25.77 and a strike rate of 147.58.
Kevin Pietersen also highlighted the similarities between the conditions in India and the West Indies. This could play to the Men in Blue’s advantage, especially if the surfaces aid spin bowling.
“The conditions are pretty similar to what is here in India actually. There will be very low bounce wickets. It takes some spin, but they are also beautiful wickets,” Pietersen said
The West Indies last hosted the T20 World Cup back in 2010, which also marks the last time the Caribbean played host to any ICC tournament. Notably, the West Indies will be co-hosting the 2024 T20 World Cup, with the United States of America (USA) also conducting a section of matches. India would be hoping that their future star Shubman Gill will come in form in the right time for the marquee event.