Nasser Hussain, the esteemed former captain of the England cricket team, has identified two emerging talents in men's cricket who he believes have the potential to reach legendary status: Shubman Gill from India and Rachin Ravindra from New Zealand.
Gill, the 24-year-old Indian opener, had an exceptional year, solidifying his position as a top performer in the 50-over format. His achievements in 2023 were nothing short of remarkable, as he emerged as the leading run-scorer in men's ODI cricket. Accumulating a whopping 1584 runs over 29 ODIs, Gill demonstrated both consistency and flair, boasting an average of 63.36 and an impressive strike rate of 105.45.
"The men, I am going to go with Shubman Gill. I think he had a very good three-quarters, nine-tenths of 2023. He must have learned so much having the likes of Rohit Sharma at the other end. It just fell away maybe at the end. Maybe that illness just got to him a little and his form (dipped) just in a month. We take it far too short when we are in the broadcasting world. He's a super talent and he's going to be the next sensation for India for years to come. So hopefully, he'll have a good 2024," Hussain said in a video on ICC's Instagram handle.
His cricketing prowess was further highlighted by his maiden ODI double century, a magnificent 208 off 149 balls against New Zealand in Hyderabad. This feat was a clear testament to his skill and tenacity. Moreover, Gill's adaptability across cricket formats was evident as he scored centuries in both Test and T20I formats. In total, he scored 2,126 runs in 47 matches throughout the year, which included seven centuries and 10 fifties, thus finishing 2023 as the highest run-maker in international cricket.
Despite a brief setback due to dengue fever, Gill bounced back impressively in the World Cup. He amassed 354 runs in nine matches, averaging 44.25 with a strike rate of 106.94. However, his form experienced a downturn during the tour of South Africa, where he struggled, particularly in the Boxing Day Test in Centurion.
Rachin Ravindra, the promising young talent from New Zealand, also caught Hussain's eye. Ravindra made a significant mark in the World Cup, scoring 578 runs in 10 innings. His performance was characterized by an extraordinary average of 64.22 and a strike rate of 106.45, including three centuries. His ability to perform consistently at such a high level suggests a bright future in international cricket.
"Going into that World Cup, I'd seen him in England a bit. He came in at Lord's down the order and smashed it around and I thought, crikey, he can play. And then, they moved him up to the top of the order and he was a revelation. So, Rachin Ravindra, hopefully he can continue his progression," Hussain added.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Sri Lanka announce new captains for ODIs and T20Is, veteran batter and star all-rounder handed responsibility
Ex-India batter throws huge shade at Rohit Sharma, dubs 'Hitman' a 'weaker player' and questions his place in the team
