Vaughan, Sehwag and Jadeja shower praise on the youngster; Wasim Jaffer is cautious
Our Bureau
Sydney
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan made a bold prediction for India opener Shubman Gill after the batsman hit his maiden Test fifty against Australia on day two of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Vaughan said one can argue but for him, the India opener is the next big thing in the longer format of the game. “You could argue @RealShubmanGill is the next big thing in Test Cricket … My prediction is he is,” Vaughan tweeted. Having impressed all with his resolve in his debut Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Gill once again stood up to the occasion and stitched India’s first 50-run opening stand after 14 innings along with Rohit Sharma at the SCG on Friday.
With Gill showcasing his talent by scoring his maiden Test fifty against Australia, former India opener Virender Sehwag praised his performance and said that the youngster “looks the real deal”.
Gill along with Rohit Sharma stitched India’s first 50-run opening stand after 14 innings on Friday during the third Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Jadeja also heaped praise on Gill saying that the latter is “technically very sound” and has the temperament to play long innings. “I think, he is technically very sound. He has the temperament to play long innings. It’s good that he got a start today, the 70-run opening partnership with Rohit. It’s a good sign for India and hope he comes good in the second innings as well,” Jadeja had told the media during the virtual press conference at the end of the second day’s action at the SCG.
Jadeja rated the youngster as someone who has the temperament to play long innings in Test cricket. Gill along with Rohit Sharma had stitched India’s first 50-run opening stand after 14 innings on Friday.
While good performances attract praise, it also sees people draw comparisons with former stars. And with Shubman Gill putting up an impressive show in the Boxing Day Test, comparisons have already started. But former India opener Wasim Jaffer has urged people not to compare the youngster with anyone.
Gill looked in good touch when he stepped out to make his Test debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against Australia. While he scored 45 in the first innings, he hit an unbeaten 35 in the second as India secured an eight-wicket win in the match. “Shubman is special but please let him enjoy his cricket and grow into his career. Don’t compare him to anyone and put undue pressure on him. He’s not next somebody he’s first Shubman Gill. We’ve lost many great talents due to undue pressure and unreal expectations. #Shubmangill,” Jaffer tweeted.
With no Virat Kohli, no Rohit Sharma, no Ishant Sharma, no Mohammad Shami, and the humiliation of getting bundled out for 36 at the Adelaide Oval, it was a brilliant turnaround by India to level the series. The win not only brought India right back in the series, but also took the team a step closer to the final of the World Test Championship.
Riding on the back of a brilliant partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja on day three, India first dismissed Australia for 200 and then came back to chase the target of 70 in just 15.5 overs on day four. If one session had cost India the first Test, it was again a session — wherein Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja weathered the storm on day two — that saw India bag the second game.
However, the win wasn’t as easy as it showed on paper. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc gave Australia the early wickets to ensure the win wouldn’t be a cakewalk for the visitors.
Starc dismissed Mayank while Cummins sent Pujara back as a small target started looking a little difficult. However, some assured strokeplay from Gill and Rahane calmed the nerves in the Indian dressing room as India registered a comprehensive 8-wicket win.
