Former India player and now expert turned commentator, Aakash Chopra, has lavished praise on India captain Shubman Gill for scoring a match-winning half-century in the first ODI against Afghanistan. He noted that the Indian captain has ” Supreme ” and no longer Prince written on his bat.
India bowled out Afghanistan for 194 in a 25-over game in Dharamsala on Saturday, June 13th. Shubman Gill then smashed an unbeaten 84 off 66 balls in the chase as the hosts achieved the target with seven wickets and 13 balls to spare.
Aakash Chopra Praises Shubman Gill
In a video shared on his own YouTube channel, named ‘Aakash Chopra’, the former Indian batter praised Gill for continuing his run-scoring spree across the formats. He said, “Shubman Gill, what a player. He seamlessly switches across formats. He scores runs with great authority. Prince is no longer written on his bat, supreme has been written. Shubman Gill is telling us once again that he is special. He scored a century in Qualifier 2 in a T20 and then a hundred in a Test.”Â
Aakash Chopra was particularly appreciative of the majestic cover drive Gill played to get off the mark. He observed, “It wasn’t a hundred here, but it was no less than that. He is batting beautifully, almost like a dream. He hit a cover drive. Just watch that shot and clap. That was pure class. That was his first scoring shot, and he kept hitting after that. Asserting and dominating, he looks good.”
For the record, Shubman Gill struck 11 fours and two sixes during his unbeaten 84-run knock. He was chosen as the Player of the Match for this sublime innings.
Aakash Chopra highlights the importance of Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul’s knock as support to Shubman Gill
In the same video, Aakash Chopra praised Ishan Kishan for adding crucial runs with Shubman Gill and KL Rahul for once again proving his versatility. He said, “Ishan Kishan played an important knock, and that partnership was very important. Then KL Rahul comes and tells you that this is called versatility. He scored 152 runs as an opener in the IPL, scored a hundred while defending continuously in Test cricket, and he did that in the middle order, actually as a finisher, here.”Â
The cricketer-turned commentator added that Rahul virtually sealed the game by smashing 20 runs in the 22nd over bowled by Ziaur Rahman. Aakash Chopra observed, “What a guy, and there was one over where he decided that it was enough, and that he had made up his mind to finish the match in that Ziaur Rahman over, and he does it in style. He hit two sixes, and he makes batting look so easy, but it is not easy.”Â
For the record, Ishan Kishan scored 34 runs off 22 balls with the help of three fours and a six. KL Rahul remained unbeaten on a 19-ball 39, a knock that was studded with four fours and three sixes. Gill & Co will be hoping India continues this winning run and seals the series in Lucknow itself when the second ODI takes place on Wednesday. India leads the series 1-0 with 2 games to go in this series.
Gill will be hoping to continue his good run and lead from the front, and others like Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul would like to contribute to the team’s cause. All eyes will be on veteran Rohit Sharma, as well as the Mumbaikar, who got a start but was unfortunately run out by Gill in the first ODI. Rohit would like to make amends in the second ODI for sure.
Let’s see how things unfold when the two teams meet in Lucknow on Wednesday, hopefully for a full game of cricket, weather permitting.
Also Read: IND vs AFG: Shubman Gill’s Masterclass Helps India Draw 1st Blood In Series