Shubman Gill was compared to Sachin Tendulkar by Wasim Akram. (Photo: AFP)
Pakistan legend Wasim Akram had recently lauded Shubman Gill on his terrific run with the bat, comparing him to Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar.
Reacting to Wasim Akram’s recent praise for Shubman Gill, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has said it is a proud moment for the Team India opener to be compared to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar by someone like Akram. Gill has witnessed a remarkable rise in his stature this year with a stunning run with the willow across formats.
The opening batter dominated in international cricket at the start of the year with as many as five centuries, including a maiden double hundred in ODIs. Gill scored a century apiece in all three formats of the game for India this year before continuing his purple patch in the recently-concluded IPL 2023 for his franchise Gujarat Titans.
Gill was in the form of his life in the IPL as he toyed with bowling attacks to help his team qualify for their second successive final. He finished the season as the highest run-getter with a staggering 890 runs from 16 matches to clinch his maiden Orange Cap and establish his credentials as the next superstar of Indian cricket.
Gill’s incredible run saw him earn praise from several greats of the game with some even comparing him to the likes of Virat Kohli and Tendulkar. Akram had recently lauded Gill for his terrific batting and said bowling to him in T20 cricket would be like bowling to Tendulkar in ODIs during his playing days. Labelling him a future superstar, Akram said Gill plays proper cricketing shots which can help his succeed in all three formats.
“When I bowl to a player like Gill, even in T20 format, it’s like I am bowling to Sachin Tendulkar in one-day cricket in the first 10 overs, when only two fielders were allowed (outside the 30-yard circle),” Akram told Sportskeeda in an interview.
Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Butt said, Gill deserved the praise from Akram considering the way he has been batting recently. The former Pakistan skipper called it a proud moment for the 23-year-old to be compared to a legend like Tendulkar by another legend – Akram. He also lauded Gill for his consistent run and said the Indian opener is one of the standout batters in world cricket at present.
“Wasim bhai has said that bowling to Gill is like bowling to Tendulkar. I think everyone has their own way of showering praises. Lot of big (former) cricketers compare youngsters with legendary players from a previous era because they can relate to it,” Butt said in his video.
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“These are deserving comments for him. A proud moment for Gill that Wasim Akram, regarded as one of the world’s best bowlers, has said this. He has earned it. His batting has been outstanding in the last few months. He has been on top of his game and he is looking as the standout batter in the game at present,” he added.
Gill will be looking to continue his fine form when India lock horns with Australia in the upcoming World Test Championship 2021-23 final. The summit clash is all set to be played at The Oval in London starting Wednesday, June 07. A lot will rely on the shoulders of Gill, who will be opening the batting with skipper Rohit Sharma in the game.
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