'As big as Virat Kohli or Sachin Tendulkar': 2007 T20 World Cup winner makes a huge statement on young Indian batter

SportsTak

Gujarat Titans (GT) opener Shubman Gill smashed his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) century during the first innings of the match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Ahmedabad on Monday, May 15. The swashbuckling opener took just 56 balls to achieve this feat, and in doing so, was the sixth ton of the season, and the first in the short history of the Gujarat Titans in the IPL.

Gill has been in excellent form, both internationally and in IPL 2023. He has scored seven centuries in the last six months. These include two Tests, three ODIs, one T20I and one IPL century. Interestingly, he also scored an ODI double-century during this period. During his exceptional innings for GT, he also became the first batter to 1000 IPL runs for the defending champions.

Fans, pundits and former cricketers have continuously praised Gill for his pristine display with the bat in 2023. Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa also joined the chorus and went as far as saying that the youngster has the potential to reach the heights scaled by Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar.

"I definitely see him having the potential of becoming someone as big as Virat Kohli or Sachin Tendulkar. I certainly think he has got the stuff. He is a phenomenal player who is in exceptional form and is playing some exceptional cricket at the moment," Uthappa told Hindustan Times.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has easily been the biggest storyline of the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Long been touted as a generational talent, the left-handed stylish batter is now knocking on the doors of the Indian national team after stacking up loads of runs in India's premier domestic competitions and in the greatest franchise T20 league in the world. The elegance, class and poise of Jaiswal were never in doubt but the way he has evolved into a power-hitter in the shortest format of the game has even surprised India captain Rohit Sharma.

Jaiswal; has won the approval of two of the biggest names in Indian cricket - Rohit and Virat Kohli - by destroying quality bowling attacks with sheer nonchalance and fearless demeanour.

Uthappa touted Jaiswal and Gill as two batters who are likely to dominate Indian cricket in years to come.

"I feel and believe personally that Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the two next big things of Indian cricket," said Uthappa.

 

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