Former India's head coach Ravi Shastri lavished praise on Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill. Shastri lauded Gill's performance against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their IPL 2024 clash on May 10, calling him a player who deserves a spot in any team. Shastri even suggested that missing out on India's T20 World Cup's main squad could be a blessing in disguise, motivating Gill to become an even better player. Gill, however, has been included as a reserve player in India's T20 World Cup squad.
Shastri's praise came after Gill's centurion knock against CSK. Notably, Gill wasn't selected for the recent T20 World Cup despite being a consistent performer for India across formats and in the IPL. He put up a strong showing last season with nearly 900 runs, and his recent century against CSK further solidified his talent. This dominant performance seems to be Shastri's way of highlighting Gill's deserving nature for a spot in the national team.
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Shubman Gill's class will continue to grow: Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill silenced his critics with a dazzling display of batting against CSK. His knock of 104 runs off just 55 balls not only secured a crucial win for the Gujarat Titans but also served as a potent reminder of his talent. This dominant performance came after a period of relatively subdued form for Gill. Ravi Shastri, commentating on the match, couldn't help but acknowledge the elephant in the room - Gill's omission from the T20 World Cup squad.
Shastri, however, saw a silver lining in this setback. He believes Gill will use this disappointment as motivation to improve even further. Shastri suggested that missing out on the World Cup could ultimately be a blessing in disguise, pushing Gill to become a more well-rounded player.
“He (Gill) would be hurting. He should be hurting. He should look at it positively and try to get better. A player of his calibre would walk into any side, but such is the talent in India that he doesn't get a place,” Shastri said while doing commentary during GT vs CSK clash.
"His class will continue to grow. He might not be in the World Cup side but he will take it in his stride. That will help him become a better player. He'll go from strength to strength," he added.
Gill lit up Ahmedabad with a splendid century
While Gill's phenomenal knock of 104 runs in just 55 balls stole the show against Chennai Super Kings, it also reignited a flicker of hope for the Gujarat Titans' playoff chances. This knock, his sixth T20 century, was part of a record-equalling 210-run opening partnership with Sai Sudharsan (103 off 51). Their combined efforts propelled GT to a formidable total of 231/3. With their bowling attack restricting CSK to 196/8, the Titans secured a crucial victory.
This win wasn't just about bragging rights; it was a dramatic climb from the bottom of the table to the eighth spot for GT. However, their playoff qualification remains a long shot. They currently have 10 points from 12 games, while CSK sits comfortably at fourth with 12 points. Gill's heroics might have kept their playoff dreams alive, but a minor miracle is needed for them to reach the knockout stages.
"When you've got 100k people supporting you, becomes easier. Just the freeness of it. When we were batting out there, we didn't have any targets in mind. Were just maximising the opportunities in front of us. We have a good camaraderie between us. Even last year we batted a lot together. At one point we thought 250 was there for the taking. In the last 2-3 overs they bowled well also. Just had a feeling we were 10-15 short - not in terms of the match but in terms of the NRR going forward," Gill said at the post-match presentation following GT's convincing victory over CSK.
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